Congressmen looked to once again force the Trump administration to fill its vacant cybersecurity adviser post, this time with an amendment to the FY19 National Defense Authorization Act, currently under consideration in the Senate.

The White House cyber coordinator post, created in 2009 by then President Barack Obama, was left vacant after its most recent occupant Rob Joyce announced his return to the National Security Agency in May 2018. Rather than fill the role, National Security Adviser John Bolton said to cut the position in order to streamline authority in the White House.

Shortly after Joyce’s departure, a House bill titled the Executive Cyberspace Coordination Act was introduced to require the White House to designate a cybersecurity adviser. At the time of publication, the bill had yet to be evaluated by House committee.

Now, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., has submitted an amendment to the NDAA that would give the White House 30 days to appoint a cybersecurity coordinator responsible for federal cyber strategy and oversight.

Jessie Bur covers federal IT and management.

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