White House’s cybersecurity official retiring

The White House’s cybersecurity coordinator said that he is stepping down at the end of this month after a 2.5-year tenure in which the Administration has increased its focus on cyber issues but struggled to reach agreement with lawmakers on the best way to protect the nation’s key computer networks from attack.

Howard Schmidt, who oversaw the creation of the White House’s first legislative proposal on cybersecurity, said he is retiring to spend more time with his family and to pursue teaching in the cyber field. Schmidt leaves at a time when the administration still has much work to do to ensure the protection of the computer systems of companies that provide electricity and other critical services. He will be succeeded by Michael Daniel, chief of the White House budget office’s intelligence branch. Daniel has worked at the Office of Management and Budget for 17 years, the past 10 handling cybersecurity issues.