Top members of Congress and other Internet-focused officials applauded the Senate confirmation on Tuesday Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro MayorkasThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Republicans pressure Biden with 0 billion COVID-19 relief alternative This week: Biden, Democrats face decision point on coronavirus relief Senate postpones vote to confirm Biden’s DHS choice amid snowstorm MORE as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), citing the need for his leadership after the hacking of the SolarWinds IT group.
The Senate confirms Mayorkas by a 56-43 vote on Tuesday, after significant Republican resistance to immigration concerns, but he received much bipartisan praise for his cybersecurity record, including experience as a DHS deputy secretary during the Obama administration.
“Sir. Mayorkas is an experienced DHS veteran with bipartisan support who has the experience and background we need now,” chairman of the House’s Internal Security Committee Bennie Thompson
Fall of the insurrection of Bennie Gordon ThompsonCapitol: A PATRIOT Act 2.0? New coalition aims to combat the rising tide of ransomware attacks. Chad Wolf, DHS acting chief, resigns MORE (D-Miss.) Said in a statement after the Senate vote. “His extensive work on immigration, cyber security and counterterrorism issues make him exceptionally qualified to ensure that the country remains resilient and safe.”
An important issue that Mayorkas will face immediately is dealing with the consequences of the SolarWinds software hack by Russian agents, with much of the federal government, including DHS, committed to up to 18,000 national and international groups.
The hack, first discovered in December, lasted more than a year and was cited as one of the biggest cyber incidents in the history of the United States. The attack may be even worse than previously feared, with Reuters report On Tuesday, Chinese hackers separately added malicious code to the SolarWinds software, with at least one component of the Department of Agriculture compromised.
Classification member of the House’s Internal Security Committee John Katko
John Michael KatkoCalls grows to 9/11 style panel to investigate Hillicon Valley Capitol attack: Intelligence agency gathers warrantless US smartphone location data, says memo | Democrats seek answers on impact of Russian invasion on DOJ and courts | Airbnb offers help to Biden administration with vaccine distribution House legislators reintroduce bipartisan bill to eliminate foreign misinformation on social networks MORE (RN.Y.) highlighted the violation of SolarWinds by congratulating Mayorkas for its confirmation on Tuesday.
“Our internal security, economic security and way of life continue to be threatened in unprecedented ways by highly sophisticated opponents,” said Katko in a statement. “Following one of the most dangerous cyber attacks our country has ever seen, I would urge Secretary Mayorkas to work with Congress, in addition to party lines, to close the worrying gaps in our country’s cybersecurity stance.”
In the Senate, the main leaders involved in the Mayorkas nomination hearing also cited the need to respond to the breach in praise for Mayorkas’ confirmation.
“Sir. Mayorkas is a proven leader and has experience in protecting the American people from harm,” chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs Gary Peters
Gary PetersThe Hill Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Which way will Democrats follow the COVID-19 bill? Biden DHS chooses advances in the Senate, removing Republican obstacle Peters to lead Democratic campaign arm in the Senate MORE (D-Mich.) He said on the Senate floor on Tuesday, citing threats like “cyber attacks from foreign opponents” as one of the problems that Mayorkas would face in office.
Sen. Maggie Hassan
Margaret (Maggie) HassanPeters will head the Senate’s Democratic campaign arm. Moderates vow to ‘be a force’ under Biden’s two-party Senate gang to speak to Biden’s aide on coronavirus relief MORE (DN.H.), a member of the Senate Homeland Security panel, emphasized the need for leadership confirmed by the Senate in an agency responsible for “keeping our country safe, protected and free”.
“Between domestic and foreign terrorist threats and the breach of cyber security at SolarWinds, it is crucial that we have someone leading the Department with experience and determination to address these challenges and more,” said Hassan in a statement. “Secretary Mayorkas’ previous leadership experience and the depth of his understanding of a number of threats to national security will serve him well in this position.”
Mayorkas himself has pledged to make cybersecurity a top priority as a secretary. DHS includes the Infrastructure Security and Cybersecurity Agency (CISA), the primary federal agency responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, including elections.
President Biden has not yet formally announced his choice to lead CISA, which has had no Senate-confirmed leadership since the first President Trump
Donald TrumpGraham rejects Merrick Garland’s request for confirmation at Trump’s attorney’s hearing on February 8 to make the First Amendment case at the impeachment trial Biden faces a crossroads in the virus relief bill MORE fired then-director of CISA, Christopher Krebs, in November.
“I can guarantee that our nation’s cyber security will be one of my top priorities, because I agree with you that the threat is real and the threat occurs every day and we have to do a better job than we are doing now,” Mayorkas said during his nomination hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee last month.
Mayorkas is also supported by cybersecurity officials, with Political journalism in December, more than three dozen former bipartisan federal cyber leaders signed a letter urging the Senate Homeland Security panel to quickly confirm the Mayorkas.
“Well known and respected throughout the cyber community, Mr. Mayorkas has the intelligence, integrity and skills to take the lead and protect our national assets – physical and cyber by nature – on the first day,” wrote the leaders, with the group including former CISA deputy director Matthew Travis and General Keith Alexander, former head of the US National Security Agency and Cyber Command.
Suzanne Spaulding, former director of CISA’s predecessor agency, also signed the letter and said the hill last week, she hoped that Mayorkas would be quickly confirmed to give DHS the leadership it needs to address cybersecurity issues.
“I really … I urge the Senate to act quickly in confirming Alejandro Mayorkas, with whom I worked closely when he was at DHS and who will be an excellent secretary … this is extremely important,” said Spaulding. “DHS men and women will continue to do what they can, but there are limits to what they can do without Senate-confirmed leadership.”