WASHINGTON (CNN) — The White House says it’s working to increase the security of the federal government’s computer and data systems after high-profile hacks at various agencies, including a recent breach at the Justice Department.
President Barack Obama Tuesday will sign an executive order establishing a federal privacy council to ensure all of the administration’s branches are using the best, most secure practices when safeguarding individual employees’ information, as well as government data.
He’ll also convene a meeting of his national security team, supplemented by top cybersecurity advisers, on Tuesday morning to discuss his new initiative.
In his annual budget proposal, set to be unveiled Tuesday, Obama will include $19 billion for bolstering cybersecurity in the federal government, including $3.1 billion to replace outdated IT systems that are difficult to secure.
“More than any other nation, America is defined by the spirit of innovation, and our dominance in the digital world gives us a competitive advantage in the global economy,” Obama wrote in the Wall Street Journal Tuesday.
“However, our advantage is threatened by foreign governments, criminals and lone actors who are targeting our computer networks, stealing trade secrets from American companies and violating the privacy of the American people.”
The White House said it was conducting a systematic review of where the government can reduce its use of Social Security numbers as identifiers of citizens. Also included in Obama’s plan: increasing training and recruiting programs for the federal government to attract experts in preventing cyber breaches.
Much of the proposal Obama is unveiling Tuesday will require Congress to sign off. GOP lawmakers have already shown little willingness to consider Obama’s budget, which also includes new spending for infrastructure and heroin addiction treatment programs.
The federal government has been working to secure its systems after a series of embarrassing high-profile breaches, including an attack at the Office of Personnel Management that left the information of 20 million current and federal employees vulnerable.
The government’s top cybersecurity experts acknowledge the new plan won’t entirely prevent further breaches, but say new steps are essential.
“Anybody who thinks any one thing is the absolute defense is probably mistaken,” said Tony Scott, the U.S. chief information officer.
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