Pressure builds on Obama to appoint cybersecurity coordinator

The co-chairmen of the House Cybersecurity Caucus are urging President Barack Obama to quickly make good on his pledge to appoint a cybersecurity coordinator. Reps James Langevin (D-RI) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said in a recent letter to the president that they were pleased to see progress on creating a comprehensive national security strategy for cyberspace. However, they said they were "deeply concerned by the delay" in coordinating the strategy from the White House. On May 29, President Obama said he would set up a new White House cybersecurity office to be led by a coordinator whom he will select and depend on for all matters relating to cybersecurity. In December, the influential Center for Strategic and International Studies' Cybersecurity Commission, of which Reps Langevin and McCaul also serve as co-chairmen, recommended creating a White House cybersecurity office. The congressman said in their letter that it's time to establish the office "with the proper authorities to manage the complex and critical mission of securing our nation's networks."