SLO Reporter

Earlier morning on June 22, 2023, the House Armed Services Committee approved a measure proposed by Congressmen Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Don Bacon (NE-02) and Mike Gallagher (WI-08) to strengthen the cybersecurity practices for the United States’ nuclear weapons system.

The bipartisan proposal was advanced to the House Floor as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

“There are some causes that may not seem worth Congress’ time at first glance. Closing gaps in the cybersecurity practices of our nation’s nuclear systems is not one of them,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I am glad that this bipartisan proposal received bipartisan support from our Armed Services Committee, and that my colleagues recognized that our proposal is a straightforward pathway to ensuring we have no reason to doubt the security of our most dangerous weapon systems.”

 “Our nuclear forces are the backbone of our Nation’s strategic deterrence,” said Rep. Bacon. “We should put every effort into protecting our nuclear arsenal and be vigilant about cybersecurity risks. I thank Rep. Carbajal for leading this important amendment with me so that we can have confidence in the security of our nuclear weapons.”

“A ready and resilient nuclear force is critical to American deterrence. I am proud to co-sponsor this bipartisan effort to ensure that the systems keeping our nuclear forces capable are cyber secure—free from adversarial interference and prepared for action at all times,” said Rep. Gallagher.

A report from the Government Accountability Office published in September found that the National Nuclear System Administration was delinquent in fully implementing federally-recommended cybersecurity practices. 

And a subsequent report released by GAO earlier this month showed continuing need for progress nearly nine months after their findings were initially published.

The language proposed by the lawmakers and approved by the House Armed Services Committee in the early hours of Thursday morning would set up a Cybersecurity Risk Inventory, Assessment, and Mitigation Working Group within the Department of Defense, requiring them to inventory nuclear systems at risk, and develop and implement a strategy for meeting the recommendations of the GAO report.

The Working Group would be required to brief the Congress within 120 days of the enactment of the proposed language, and submit a completed strategy to the Armed Services committees by April 1, 2025.

Original source can be found here.