Several members of Congress say they're concerned about proposed budget cuts that would decrease cybersecurity funding next year by 4.6 percent, or $18 million, from the 2010 appropriation level.

"Given the seriousness and complexities of this threat that we're under, it is a bit disconcerting that the budget request actually calls for a decrease in the dollars put into the program..." said Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), a ranking member of the House Appropriations homeland security subcommittee, during an April 15 panel meeting, according to a report by Federal News Radio.

"I think that's likely to slow the rate of deployment of both Einstein 2 and 3, and slow consolidation efforts under the TIC program. It also could reduce the outreach to the private sector, which, by the way, is 85 percent of the critical infrastructure, not to mention outreach to safeguard data held by state and local governments," he added.

Rogers said some progress has been made with the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, of which TIC and Einstein are part, but according to a recent Government Accountability Office report, the success of these programs is not where it should be and more Office of Management and Budget and DHS guidance is needed.

"I think the progress on [CNCI] is dragging. I think they have the concept in mind and are working toward fulfilling it, but it's going very slowly and we are way behind. Einstein 3, they tell me, was at least one year behind their schedule. That's not satisfactory--and we're less than half finished with the Einstein 2's TIC program. So, I guess I'm a little discouraged that we're not moving fast enough," said Rogers.

For more:
- read the Federal News Radio article
- read the ExecutiveGov article

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