New bill prolonging cyber programs, funding CISA unveiled

Congressional leaders have introduced a new federal spending minibus package that would not only extend the Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Act of 2015, the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant program, and the Technology Modernization Fund until the end of the fiscal year in September, but also earmark $2.6 billion for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, reports CyberScoop.

CISA would be given $39.6 million to support election security programs and continue the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which had its funding terminated by the Trump administration last year. Such a bill also ordered CISA to ensure adequate staffing.

"CISA shall not reduce staffing in such a way that it lacks sufficient staff to effectively carry out its statutory missions, including cybersecurity and infrastructure security for the Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies, SLTT [state, local, tribal and territorial] partners, Sector Risk Management Agencies, international partners, and other stakeholders," said the lawmakers in a joint exploratory statement.