The US Senate confirmed Jen Easterly to head the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on Monday, July 19. This appointment comes after an eight-month vacancy, and with a unanimous Senate behind it.
Easterly is a former NSA and White House counterterrorism and cyber official, and only the second person to lead CISA. The organization employs about 2,500 people, which protects federal networks and gives security advice to critical infrastructure operators, small businesses and local governments.
Easterly won’t be entering CISA with a light assignment. According to Politico, the organization is in a bit of a mess. The recent, high-profile cyberattacks against federal and business organizations have put the agency under a microscope, as CISA had already had a difficult time maintaining its mandate with a lack of personnel.
That isn’t stopping Congress from giving the organization new authorities. CISA now has the ability to go after intrusions on other agencies’ networks, and could potentially see a bill strengthening its powers.
