Infosecurity.US

News of a move to migrate control of United States cybersecurity initiatives and control from the Department of Homeland Security to a yet-to-be-created “Office of the National Cybersecurity Advisor” a contemplated (in the bill) component of the Executive Office of the President. The shifting of power is meeting with critics comprised of both DHS officials and political conservatives. More information and a short snippet from the original story appears after the jump.

From CNET Politics and Law blogger Stephanie Condon’s original blog post:  “A bill to shift cybersecurity to White House”

“Forthcoming legislation would wrest cybersecurity responsibilities from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and transfer them to the White House, a proposed move that likely will draw objections from industry groups and some conservatives. CNET News has obtained a summary of a proposal from Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) that would create an Office of the National Cybersecurity Advisor, part of the Executive Office of the President. That office would receive the power to disconnect, if it believes they’re at risk of a cyberattack, “critical” computer networks from the Internet. “I regard this as a profoundly and deeply troubling problem to which we are not paying much attention,” Rockefeller said a hearing this week, referring to cybersecurity…”

“Giving the White House cybersecurity responsibility was one of the top recommendations of a commission that produced a report last year to advise President Obama on cybersecurity issues. However, the Homeland Security Department, which currently has jurisdiction over cybersecurity, has insisted the reshuffling of duties is not needed…”