Lawmakers Fear White House Cybersecurity Czar Would Undercut DHS Role

Computerworld — Some lawmakers are questioning President Barack Obama's plan to appoint a White House cybersecurity coordinator, fearing that the new post will dilute the role of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The misgivings were expressed during a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing held earlier this month for Rand Beers, the president's nominee for the post of undersecretary of the DHS's National Protection and Programs Directorate, just days after the Obama announcement.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), who chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, said he fears that a new cybersecurity czar will "undercut the role of the DHS."

"To me, it's not just turf. It's a very critical element of homeland security," Lieberman said.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a ranking member of the committee, added that concentrating power in the White House could make oversight more difficult -- because DHS officials are more likely to appear before the committee when asked.

"[I have a] lot of reservations about the establishment of a White House cybersecurity czar," she said.

Obama told reporters at a press conference announcing the move that the as-yet-unnamed coordinator will be responsible for "orchestrating and integrating" all cybersecurity policies for the government.

In his testimony before the committee, Beers said the White House position will have no operational authority and will serve a purely coordinating function. There will be "no realignment of roles and mission for the [DHS]," and the department's operational role will not be undercut, he added.

This version of the story originally appeared in Computerworld 's print edition.