New Cyber Security Push Is Urged

A commission of technology experts will propose consolidating cyber security work under a top White House official and using diplomatic, intelligence and military tools to confront threats in cyberspace. The new White House post is likely to be the most controversial of the commission's recommendations, which will be released Monday. In its report, the commission compared the job to that of the director of national intelligence. The cyber chief would report to the president and have his own staff of 10 to 20 people who would work with a beefed-up National Security Council cyber staff and federal agencies to implement the president's cyber policies. The Center for Strategic and International Studies assembled the commission in August 2007 after a spate of cyberattacks at several federal agencies. In setting up the commission, CSIS chose members who were expected to land in either a Democratic or Republican White House. Its four chairmen are a bipartisan group, including the top Democrat and Republican on the House Homeland Security subcommittee that handles cyber security.