News

USIS Washington File

07 January 2000

President Clinton Announces New Plan to Fight Cyberterrorism

(Asks Congress for a 17% increase in funding for this purpose) (500)
By Stephanie L. Cupp
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- President Clinton has announced a national plan to
protect U.S. information technology (IT) from cyberterrorism, the
first such plan launched by any nation.

"Thanks to the hard work of many people, our computer systems were
ready for Y2K," Clinton told reporters January 7. "But that
experience," he said, "did underscore how really interconnected we all
are. Today, our critical systems -- from power structures to air
traffic control -- are connected and run by computers. We must make
those systems more secure so that America can be more secure."

The administration plans to request a 17 percent increase in funding
beyond the current budget for fighting cyberterrorism, bringing the
total requested to $2,030 million for IT security in fiscal year 2001,
which begins next October 1.

Twenty-two federal agencies in partnership with IT companies in the
private sector have been included in the planning, with particular
emphasis being placed on the area of research and development.

"Cooperation rather than new regulations will bring more resources to
the table, and we will then have the opportunity to produce results
faster," said Commerce Secretary William Daley in a White House
briefing on the plan.

He pointed out that the U.S. economy "is much more dependent as we
enter this next century on information technologies," and the
"defending of this economy is most important" to the United States.

The proposed plan includes funding for information technology
scholarships, to be provided to college students in exchange for a
period of public service.

"Universities have begun to address this workforce need, but if we are
to accelerate the numbers of competent professionals at the rate that
is required, federal support for faculty development and student
assistance is essential," asserted Linwood Rose, President of James
Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

"It is imperative," he said, that university undergraduate programs be
developed to prepare information security specialists.

Rose said that economic growth in the United States has been fueled by
its leadership in information technology, making it more dependent
upon computing and electronic networks than any other country in the
world.

These systems, he said, "if not carefully protected, may be accessed
by those whose intentions are much more serious than just mischief."

"To protect these systems, we must have more information assurance
people -- people who have the talent and expertise to evaluate system
vulnerabilities, who understand encryption methodologies to protect
critical data, and who are able to design trusted systems and provide
for intruder monitoring and detection."

The proposed plan also would provide funding for a new institute to
bring together computer scientists and engineers from the private
sector, universities and research facilities to accelerate and broaden
research into computer security.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)