State Department looks to strengthen public-private partnerships to create robust US digital infrastructure

Senior Official at the State Department's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy Jennifer Bachus is working with private sector leaders in an effort to strengthen the public-private technology partnerships, a key tenant in the Biden Administration’s plan to create a robust digital infrastructure in the US. The key policy initiatives being addressed include internet connectivity, data policy and its impacts on cybersecurity, cyber workforce development, and free expression and safety online. The agency intends to address a variety of tech policy issues through frequent collaborative efforts. Bachus and the agency's Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy work to advance “digital diplomacy” by coordinating a state response to national tech policy programs and needs. Multiple federal agencies are enthusiastic about forming new and strengthening existing partnerships between public and private organizations. The Government Accountability Office and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency voiced their support for more strategic partnerships, and lawmakers included private cybersecurity partnerships as a paramount feature in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022.