King, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Officially Staff National Cyber Director’s Office

WASHINGTON, DC – As cyberattacks on Americans increase in both frequency and consequence, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce legislation that would provide the newly-created Office of the National Cyber Director (NCD) with staff to begin its vital work. The legislation would authorize non-reimbursable detailees for the

Office of the National Cyber Director, addressing urgent personnel needs and providing additional support to the NCD’s work coordinating national cybersecurity policy and strategy. The creation of the National Cyber Director position was a key recommendation of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Earlier this month, Senator King celebrated the swearing-in of Chris Inglis, who was confirmed in June by the U.S. Senate.

“Now that the U.S. has a National Cyber Director to coordinate the federal response to improve our cyberdefenses, it is imperative we give the position the staff and specialists fight this cyberwar with the resources and expertise needed,” said Senator King. “Any good field general needs troops and a team to execute the mission, and as we confront global cyberthreats and ransomware criminals, we must give Chris Inglis the tools and capability to protect our society, economy and nation from those seeking to do us harm.”

As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senate Armed Services Committee, chair of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. and co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, Senator King is recognized as one of Congress’s leading experts on cyberdefense and a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyberstrategy that emphasizes layered cyberdeterrence. King and his fellow CSC Commissioners from the legislative branch have previously praised Inglis’s experience and vision, stating that “there is no one more qualified than Chris” for this vital role.  His expertise and national security insights were seen most recently on CNN’s “State of the Union” live from Millinocket, Maine. The CSC was established by statute in the 2019 NDAA, officially launched in April 2019, and will continue to execute its statutory mission through December 2021. The Commission’s report and continued work seeks to strengthen America’s posture in cyberspace and identify opportunities to improve our national preparedness to defend ourselves against cyberattacks.

In addition to Senator King, the legislation is supported by Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.).