Gary Peters Questions Kristi Noem on Cybersecurity, Drone Threats, and CISA Budget

Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) Extension

• 💡 Senator Peters emphasized the critical nature of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (SISA), which is set to expire at the end of September.
• ✅ The administration, represented by Secretary Noem, supports the extension of SISA for another 10 years to ensure stability in cyber threat information sharing between public and private sectors.
• 🤝 This authority is vital for understanding the threat landscape and fostering cooperation with private industry to secure critical infrastructure.

Counter Drone Authorities

• ⚠️ Senator Peters expressed concern over the increasing number of drone incursions targeting public spaces and critical infrastructure.
• 🎯 He highlighted a recent arrest in Michigan involving a drone used for reconnaissance of a US Army facility, underscoring the need for law enforcement resources.
• 🤝 Peters urged for the reauthorization and strengthening of DHS and DOJ's counter drone authorities, which also expire in September, and mentioned a bill (S1631) introduced with Senator Johnson as a starting point.
• 🗓️ Secretary Noem committed to reviewing the legislation and acknowledged the need to reauthorize and potentially expand these authorities, especially with major upcoming events like the Copa America and World Cup, and the Olympics.

CISA Budget and Mission Focus

• ❓ Senator Peters questioned the proposed $500 million cut to CISA's budget, especially after Secretary Noem stated CISA was "back on mission."
• 🎯 Secretary Noem clarified that CISA's mission is to be the nation's cybersecurity agency, securing critical infrastructure and assisting businesses and local governments.
• ✂️ She indicated that the proposed cuts would involve removing duplicative employees and activities not directly related to core cybersecurity functions, such as election security work that cost approximately $20 million.
• 🤝 Noem stated that under the President's budget, cybersecurity is strengthened, with a focus on partnerships with private industries that possess crucial expertise, potentially requiring liability protections for them.
• 🔍 The discussion touched upon the need for enhanced capabilities to address sophisticated threats like Volt Typhoon, emphasizing the value of private sector insights and collaboration.