Major cyber-minded members of Congress and other officials on Tuesday welcomed the confirmation of the Senate Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro MayorkasUS Payments Agency Targeted by Chinese Hackers: Reports Biden on Immigration Orders: ‘I Eliminate Bad Policies’ Hillicon Valley: Bezos Retires as Amazon CEO | Officials welcome Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary | Uber buys more alcohol delivery service Drizly as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), citing the need for his leadership after the cap of the IT group SolarWinds.
The Senate confirms Mayorkas with a 56-43 vote Tuesday after a significant Republican setback over immigration concerns, but he received substantial two-party praise for his background in cybersecurity, including the experience of serving as DHS deputy secretary during the Obama administration to serve.
“Mr. Mayorkas is an experienced DHS veteran with dual support who has the experience and background we currently need,” said Chairman of the Home Security Committee. Bennie Thompson
Bennie Gordon ThompsonHillicon Valley: Bezos Retires Amazon CEO | Officials welcome Mayorkas ‘confirmation as DHS secretary as Uber buys liquor delivery service Drizly officials welcome Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary on cyber security over the fall of Capitol Uprising: A PATRIOT Act 2.0? MORE (D-Miss.) Said in a statement following the vote in the Senate. “His extensive work on immigration, cyber security and terrorism issues makes him uniquely qualified to ensure the country remains resilient and secure.”
One of the most important issues Mayorkas will face immediately is to grapple with the fallout from the hack of SolarWinds software by Russian agents, with many of the federal government, including DHS, working with up to 18,000 local and international groups .
The hack, first discovered in December, lasts more than a year and is said to be one of the largest cyber attacks in American history. The attack could be even worse than previously feared, with Reuters reported On Tuesday, Chinese hackers added malicious code separately to the SolarWinds software, with at least one component from the Department of Agriculture.
Home Security Committee of the Homeland Security Committee John Katko
John Michael Katko – Chinese payroll agency targeted by Chinese hackers: reports Hillicon Valley: Bezos resigns as Amazon CEO | Officials welcome Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary | Uber to buy Drizly House Republics delivery service for conference call amid civil war (RN.Y.) highlighted the violation of SolarWinds by congratulating Mayorkas on its confirmation on Tuesday.
“Our internal security, economic security and way of life are still being threatened in unprecedented ways by highly sophisticated opponents,” Katko said in a statement. “On the heels of one of the most dangerous cyber attacks our country has seen, I would like to urge Secretary Mayorkas to work with Congress, across party lines, to reduce the disturbing gaps in our country’s cyber security.”
In the Senate, key leaders involved in Mayorkas ‘nomination hearing also cite the need to respond to the transgression to praise Mayorkas’ confirmation.
“Mr. Mayorkas is a proven leader and has the experience to protect the American people from harm,” said Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. Gary Peters
Gary PetersHillicon Valley: Bezos Retires Amazon CEO | Officials welcome Mayorkas ‘confirmation as DHS secretary when Uber buys liquor delivery service Drizly officials welcome Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary on cyber security on The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – What way will Democrats take in terms of COVID-19- bill? MORE (D-Mich.) Said on the Senate floor on Tuesday, citing threats such as ‘cyber attacks by foreign opponents’, among the issues Mayorkas will face in office.
Sen. Maggie Hassan
Margaret (Maggie) Hassan Officials welcome Mayorkas’ confirmation as DHS secretary of cybersecurity over Peters as head of the Senate Democratic campaign Democratic vow to be a ‘power’ under Biden (DN.H.), a member of the Senate Homeland Security Panel, stressed the need for Senate-confirmed leadership at an agency responsible for ‘keeping our country safe, secure and free’.
“Between foreign and domestic terrorist threats and the intrusion into SolarWinds’ cyber security, it’s crucial that we have someone with the department’s expertise and intent to address these challenges and more,” Hassan said in a statement. . “Secretary Mayorkas’ previous leadership experience and in-depth understanding of a range of national security threats will serve him well in this position.”
Mayorkas has committed itself to making cyber security a top priority as secretary. DHS contains the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the most important federal agency responsible for securing critical infrastructure, including elections.
President Biden has not yet formally announced his choice to lead the CISA, which has existed since the former Senate-confirmed leadership President Trump
Donald Trump: Georgia’s Secretary of State is investigating Lin Wood’s illegal voting rights. the then CISA director Christopher Krebs fired in November.
“I can assure you that the cyber security of our country will be one of my highest priorities, because I agree with you that the threat is real and that the threat is every day and that we must work better than we do now,” said Mayorkas. said during his nomination hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs last month.
Mayorkas also has the support of cyber security officers, with Politico reporting in December that more than three dozen former federal cyber leaders from two parties had signed a letter asking the Senate Homeland Security panel to confirm Mayorkas quickly.
“Known and respected throughout the cyber community, Mr. Mayorkas possesses the intelligence, integrity and skills to take the lead and protect our homeland’s assets, physical and cyber, on the first day,” the leaders wrote with the group, including the former deputy director of the CISA, Matthew Travis, and Genl. Keith Alexander, former head of the National Security Agency and the U.S. Cyber Command.
Suzanne Spaulding, the former director of the CISA predecessor agency, also signed the letter and told The Hill last week that she hopes Mayorkas will be confirmed soon to guide DHS in addressing cyber security issues.
“I urge the Senate to proceed quickly with the confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas, with whom I worked closely when I was at DHS and will be a tremendous secretary … this is critical,” he said. said Spaulding. “The men and women at DHS continue to do what they can do, but there are limits to what they can do without the Senate-confirmed leadership.”