National Security and Foreign Affairs
During the first presidential debate on Monday, Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles) didn’t like what he heard from Republican nominee Donald Trump on nuclear weapons. The congressman said he is worried that Trump, if elected, will have the power to launch a nuclear strike.
On Tuesday, Lieu and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) introduced the First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act, which would require Congress to declare war before the president can authorize the use of nuclear weapons.
A NERD’S TOUR OF DUTY — Chris Lynch, head of the nearly one-year-old Defense Digital Service, sat down with Martin in the organization’s unconventional Pentagon office for a Q&A that’s out this morning. Lynch has already said he plans to stay on for the next administration, but other highlights include the state of recruiting for the elite IT office: “I think that it’s changed a lot.
Welcome to OVERNIGHT CYBERSECURITY, your daily rundown of the biggest news in the world of hacking and data privacy. We're here to connect the dots as leaders in government, policy and industry try to counter the rise in cyber threats. What lies ahead for Congress, the administration and the latest company under siege? Whether you're a consumer, a techie or a D.C. lifer, we're here to give you ...
THE BIG STORIES:
In today’s Top Federal Headlines, President Barack Obama nominates Glenn Fine as the new Defense Department inspector general.
Hackers could influence the outcomes of November’s elections, a computer science professor who has demonstrated security weaknesses in voting machines told lawmakers on Wednesday.
“It’s possible,” said Andrew Appel, a professor at Princeton University, at a House Oversight IT subcommittee hearing focused on election cybersecurity.
GOP presidential Donald Trump appears to have rejected 60 years of America's stance on nuclear weapons at Monday night's presidential debate.
Debate moderator Lester Holt asked both candidates if they would revert to a "No First Use" stance on nuclear weapons, meaning that the United States would never be the first country to deploy nuclear weapons in a conflict. Trump's answer could be best described as nonsensical.
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) in a letter quizzed newly appointed federal Chief Information Office (CISO) Gen. Greg Touhill on whether or not he feels the General Accounting Office's (GAO) cybersecurity recommendations should be implemented.
Lieu, who sits on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, queried Touhill on Sept. 27 as to why no action has been taken on the GAO's suggestions and what Congress needs to do to help address the nation's cybersecurity needs.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump's ambiguous answer to a debate question on nuclear restraint raised doubts about his understanding of the issue. On the other hand, his words — by design or coincidence — mirror the nub of a policy argument the administration is wrestling with in the final months of Barack Obama's presidency.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly launched an investigation into the supposedly hacked mobile phones of Democratic Party officials. The attacks occurred as recently as the past month, Reuters reported, citing individuals with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A congressional leader on cybersecurity is seeking to find out why federal agencies have failed to implement measures that would improve their cybersecurity posture against the growing volume of cyberattacks against government.
"Cyberattacks on our federal government have increased by 1,300 percent in 10 years," Democratic California Rep. Ted Lieu wrote in a letter to Federal Chief Information Security Officer Greg Touhill. "Yet over 1,000 … recommendations to improve cybersecurity have failed to be implemented by federal agencies."