Cyber Resignation

The resignation of the director of national intelligence's top cybersecurity adviser doesn't sit well with Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-ME).

As The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday:

Melissa Hathaway, who completed the Obama administration's cybersecurity review in April, said in an interview that she was leaving for personal reasons. "It's time to pass the torch," she said, adding that she and her colleagues have provided an "initial down payment for what's needed to start to address cybersecurity."

Hathaway said yesterday that she would resign her position effective Aug. 21.

Collins, however, said in a statement released today that the resignation "underscores the continued lack of leadership within the Obama administration on cyber security issues. The loss of her expertise on this issue is unfortunate. However, the White House plan to appoint yet another czar to address this real and growing threat is not the answer."

Further, Collins said:

Indeed, the Administration should take this time to reconsider the merits of putting a cyber czar within the White House -- with no operational authority and shielded from Congressional oversight. Rather, the Administration should work with Congress to establish an effective, accountable cyber leader at the Department of Homeland Security.

This position should be given real authority over cyber security with the singular focus of protecting America’s critical networks, throughout the federal government and within the private sector. Effective cyber security requires the cooperation of numerous agencies, and the Department of Homeland Security is the nexus of key realms – intelligence gathering and dissemination, security planning and threat assessment, and coordination with law enforcement and private sector officials.

A czar at the White House -- unconfirmed and unaccountable to Congress -- cannot create the environment needed to secure our critical networks.”