The recent government shutdown placed many of the United States’ most critical cybersecurity priorities on hold. Meanwhile, state-affiliated hackers and cybercriminal groups continue to intensify their efforts to infiltrate government systems, disrupt critical infrastructure, and exploit private enterprises and citizens alike.

Now that federal operations have resumed, it is imperative for the federal government to refocus its attention on strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity posture. In our new paper, Reinvigorating Federal Cybersecurity Initiatives: A Post-Shutdown Call to Action for the Trump Administration and Congress, the Coalition outlines the most pressing challenges in cyber policy today and urges the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) and Congress to take decisive action across four key areas: 

1. Equip Federal Agencies to Fulfill Cybersecurity Missions

Federal agencies are responsible for several types of cybersecurity missions, including defending their own systems and data, coordinating cybersecurity efforts across the federal enterprise, and supporting the private sector in their capacity as Sector Risk Management Agencies (SRMAs). To ensure agencies have the tools and resources needed to fulfill these missions, the Coalition urges the Trump Administration to:

• Resume and expedite delayed cybersecurity procurements and ensure that ongoing contract processes continue without interruption.
• Fill critical vacancies, strengthen retention of cybersecurity professionals, and reinstate exemptions that protect cybersecurity personnel from layoffs.
• Complete guidance required by the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act and provide agencies with additional resources to support their transition to PQC.

‍2. Bolster Legislative Action on Cybersecurity

Legislative action has been instrumental in advancing cybersecurity policy in the U.S. over the past decade. To ensure that essential protections and programs remain strong, the Coalition urges Congress to: 

• Reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 for another ten years through a clean renewal.
• Reauthorize the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP) with meaningful appropriations.
• Exercise oversight  of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) rulemaking process for the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA).
• Monitor the performance of ONCD to ensure it is fulfilling its statutory mandate.

‍3. Clarify Cybersecurity Leadership Roles and Ensure Strategic Cohesion

Cybersecurity initiatives succeed only when experienced leadership drives them under a unified strategic vision. Therefore, the Coalition calls on the Trump Administration to work with Congress to:

• Confirm leadership at CISA, U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), and the National Security Agency (NSA).
• Ensure all agencies align behind ONCD’s leadership to maintain a coherent national cyber strategy.
• Prioritize adoption of AI-enabled cyber defensive tools.
• Streamline divergent cybersecurity requirements, particularly those related to cyber incident reporting.

4. Revitalize Engagements with the Private Sector

The U.S. has long been a global cybersecurity leader in large part because of consistent and structured collaboration between the federal government and the private sector. To rebuild and strengthen these critical relationships, the Coalition urges the Trump Administration to:

• Finalize a new structure to replace the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC).
• Complete the CIRCIA rulemaking process, engaging in ex parte discussions and another open comment period occur prior to finalization of the rules. 

The Coalition circulated the letter to the National Cyber Director, Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, and to bipartisan leadership of the following congressional committees: 

• Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
• House Committee on Homeland Security
• House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform
• Senate Committee on Armed Services
• House Committee on Armed Services
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
• House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
• House Committee on Energy & Commerce
• House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology

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