Sara Friedman

The Federal Communications Commission took divisive action in a 3-2 vote today to address the Salt Typhoon threat, ordering telecom carriers to secure their networks and seeking comment on requiring an annual attestation of cyber risk management plans.

Industry stakeholders outlined the benefits of some activities in President Biden’s second cyber executive order, while raising questions over whether the incoming Trump administration will continue those efforts moving forward.

Homeland Security Secretary nominee Kristi Noem emphasized the importance of addressing cyber threats today at a Senate confirmation hearing, with an emphasis on shifting away from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s misinformation and disinformation work to protecting the nation’s defenses.

Doubling down in President Biden’s second cyber executive order on making changes to government’s acquisition rules prioritizes addressing cyber threats, according to National Security Council official Carole House, who spoke about the realities of implementing the EO with the new Trump administration coming in.

Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) will continue to play critical roles in the House to shape the cyber policy agenda and conduct oversight in the 119 th Congress, with Garbarino chairing the Homeland Security cyber subcommittee and Mace leading the cyber subcommittee in the Oversight and Government Reform panel.

The Senate Homeland Security Committee has advanced in a 13-2 vote the nomination of Kristi Noem for Homeland Security Secretary to the floor for consideration, as one of Trump’s first cabinet picks to be confirmed.

Former President Biden’s second major cyber executive order released on Jan. 16 will remain in effect, amid the first acts to roll back EOs and executive actions that the new Trump administration describes as “harmful” including the 2023 artificial intelligence EO.

CISA’s upcoming incident reporting regime, the Pentagon’s cyber certification program and health sector regulations could be delayed under the Trump administration’s decision to put a two-month freeze on regulatory actions to allow for reviews by incoming agency and department heads.

President Trump is making software modernization a priority as part of his work to reduce government spending in an executive order to establish the “Department of Government Efficiency” as a White House office through reorienting the efforts of the United States Digital Service.

House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN) used the panel’s first hearing of the 119 th Congress to push for his bill to address cyber workforce challenges and ensuring the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has the resources it needs to address China-based threats.