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Biden Signs Two Bills to Enhance Government Cybersecurity

Now signed into law, the bills aim to improve cybersecurity and collaboration on all levels of government.

David Anders Senior Writer
David Anders is a senior writer for CNET covering broadband providers, smart home devices and security products. Prior to joining CNET, David built his industry expertise writing for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. In his 5 plus years covering broadband, David's work has been referenced by a variety of sources including ArcGIS, DIRECTV and more. David is from and currently resides in the Charlotte area with his wife, son and two cats.
Expertise Broadband providers, Home internet, Security Cameras
David Anders
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President Joe Biden signed three bills into new law Tuesday, two of which focus on beefing up government cybersecurity, according to a White House press release

Bill S. 1097, titled the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2021, establishes an employee rotational program within the Federal Cyber Workforce. The workforce is a "diverse group of practitioners who govern, design, defend, analyze, administer, operate, and maintain our nation's data, systems and networks," according to the CIO Council

The law establishes that "certain federal employees may be detailed among rotational cyber workforce positions at other agencies" and authorizes agencies to determine which employees are eligible for the program. 

Bill S. 2520, titled the State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act of 2021, will require the Department of Homeland Security to increase collaboration among state, local, tribal and territorial government entities along with "corporations, associations, and the general public, regarding cybersecurity."

The law requires the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center to provide training, conduct exercises, and promote cybersecurity education and awareness across all lower levels of government. 

The two bills join a number of other efforts by the Biden administration to bolster cybersecurity. The president recently oversaw the creation of a cybersecurity bureau and cybersecurity review board and signed an executive order intended to improve cybersecurity following the Colonial Pipeline hack in 2021. 

Both bills were sponsored by Democrat and Republican senators and representatives, showing a bipartisan effort to minimize cybersecurity threats to the US.