John Hewitt Jones
The landmark Cyberspace Solarium Commission warned Thursday in an annual report that major barriers remain over the designation of cybersecurity responsibilities under the Defense Production Act (DPA).
In its initial report, published in March last year, the commission called on the federal government to use the DPA to foster domestic production of critical technology and components, and to ensure resources are available if foreign supply chains are disrupted.
Under the Defense Production Act, the federal government can invoke the authority to compel the private sector to prioritize certain contracts, as has occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic with companies such as 3M being compelled to produce masks and other medical equipment.
The report explains that regarding cybersecurity responsibilities related to the DPA, the commission “has encountered significant pressure against this recommendation, which is one of the four that face known significant barriers to implementation,” as it expected.
Other areas for concern identified in the…
