Proposed Risk Threat Assessment Highlights Vulnerabilities of CBP, DOD Managers
In addition to the daily demands of supervising an efficient and effective team, managers in today’s federal government must also be aware of broader responsibilities, such as maintaining cybersecurity standards in their office. Cyberattacks continue to threaten the operations of federal agencies, and federal cybersecurity has caught the attention of Congress. Representative Vicente Gonzalez Jr. (D-TX 34th District) recently proposed an amendment to the fiscal year 2024 defense budget that would require the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit a risk threat assessment to relevant Congressional committees outlining their efforts to prevent cyberattacks on technology used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and deployed DOD personnel.
This assessment would include information on potential threats to CBP’s screening and surveillance equipment. Following the assessment’s completion, the DOD and DHS secretaries would be required to address the reported vulnerabilities in an effort to reduce the risk of future cyberattacks and to, increase operational security. According to Representative Gonzalez, a growing number of cybercriminals are targeting CBP screening and surveillance equipment. CBP’s Office of Information and Technology’s fiscal year 2022 year-in-review report supported this statement, indicating that the number of daily cyberattack attempts has grown from 40 million to nearly 100 million over the last two years.
The growing cybersecurity threat to the federal government already attracts consistent scrutiny on Capitol Hill, which will only increase if this amendment is passed. Scrutiny will surely be followed by accountability efforts by agency officials, leaving CBP and DOD managers to defend their decisions. Additionally, managers may be tasked with enacting new cybersecurity measures. As all federal managers know, implementing new policies and procedures comes with difficulties, such as possible employee pushback, as well as heightened supervision by agency officials. If federal managers come under fire for actions taken in the scope of their federal employment, it is imperative that they have the tools to defend themselves – FEDS Protection can help.
Allegations of wrongdoing against federal managers can lead to agency investigations. If an allegation is made against you, it is a necessity, not luxury, to have knowledgeable and effective counsel advocating on your behalf. Your agency attorney is not your attorney. It is the job of the agency attorney to defend the agency – not you. As a manager, you need to have counsel that has specific experience representing federal employees with your professional vulnerabilities.
FEDS Protection offers federal employee policies with $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million in civil liability protection for attorney’s fees and indemnity costs in the event you are sued in your civil capacity. The FEDS policy also includes $200,000 of legal representation coverage per incident for administrative actions and $100,000 in coverage for criminal defense costs. FEDS Protection is affordable – annual premiums start at just $290. Additionally, federal managers and law enforcement officers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% the cost of their PLI policy through their agency. To learn more about how a FEDS PLI policy can protect you and your career, visit www.fedsprotection.com or call (866) 955-FEDS, M-F 8:30am-6pm to speak directly to a representative.
*This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.