Republicans frustrated at lack of attention by DHS on Cybersecuriy

[Roland99]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20040923/D859FG0O1.html


WASHINGTON (AP) - The House will propose moving cybersecurity offices from the Department of Homeland Security to the White House as part of the intelligence reorganization, according to draft legislation obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. The bill, expected to be introduced Thursday, would place cybersecurity into the White House budget office.

The change reflects frustration among some Republican lawmakers about what they view as a lack of attention paid to cybersecurity by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Some technology companies also have expressed similar concerns, but industry lobbyists reacted cautiously Wednesday to the proposal.

"DHS deserves the opportunity to demonstrate its effectiveness before taking this step," said Tom Galvin, a vice president at Verisign Inc. (VRSN), an information security firm. But he said he understood the frustration among some in the industry and in Congress.