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Trump Admin Wants This Three Letter Agency To Analyze All Federal Cybersecurity Risks

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Eric Lieberman Managing Editor
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President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order Tuesday that will direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to analyze and manage the comprehensive risk of the federal government.

“This is a key distinction I’d like you to pick up on,” according to Herbert Jackson’s White House press pool report, which was obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation (TheDCNF).

“What we’re asking now is for the OMB director to run an effort, or to lead an effort, to then assess the enterprise risk to the entire federal government,” the pool report continues, while also reaffirming that the heads of federal agencies will also be held accountable for institutional cybersecurity. “Not the judicial or the legislative branch, but the entire executive branch.”

In a separate press pool report obtained by TheDCNF, the White House describes how it will direct the secretary of homeland security to work with the owners and operators of private firms who have control of critical infrastructure, like the “electric grid.” The White House hopes to empower private companies, as well as the government, with the resources they need to protect against any “electric grid disruption.” (RELATED: The Internet Has Officially Become A Domain Of Warfare)

The executive order is also expected to further direct “agencies to manage their cyber risk using the cyber security framework set by NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology.” (RELATED: OPM Cybersecurity Issues Jeopardized America For Years)

Since such cybersecurity operating guidelines have become the “de facto industry standard across numerous sectors of the economy,” the White House reportedly believes the new directives are appropriate.

The NIST’s framework is often updated after taking feedback and recommendations from industry, academia, R&D, cybersecurity experts and the public alike. The most recent update occurred earlier in the month.

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