Potentially, Trump Contemplates Dividing America's Digital Security Departments
Potentially, Trump Contemplates Dividing America's Digital Security Departments
The United States government has been wrestling with determining the ideal bureaucratic framework governing its cyber agencies for years. Some advocate for a single figure to oversee both the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command (CyberCom), much like the present situation, while others prefer independent leadership and more segregated agencies for each entity. As Donald Trump prepares for his second term, there's a good chance these agencies will have another chance to alter this administrative structure.
According to reports from The Record, advisors affiliated with Trump's transition team are drafting a strategy to separate the leadership role currently overseeing both the NSA and CyberCom. Currently, this role is filled by Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, who serves as both the CyberCom commander and the NSA director. In his first term, Trump attempted to abolish this shared leadership position, and in his second term, he may facilitate its dissolution.
America's cyber agencies are distinct yet connected entities. The NSA, short for the National Security Agency, is an intelligence organization known for its signals intelligence work and as the country's largest spy agency. By contrast, CyberCom is part of the U.S. Department of Defense and is one of its eleven "unified combatant commands" (COM), each focusing on specific missions. For instance, NORTHCOM is tasked with defending North America, while SOUTHCOM covers South America. As of now, SPACECOM and CYBERCOM are also included in this list. Established in 2010, CYBERCOM is the second-newest command after the dual hat arrangement was brought into effect. Both the NSA and CyberCommand are situated at Fort Meade in Maryland.
Previously, the NSA had distinct leadership from the DoD, but the introduction of the dual hat arrangement in 2010 altered that. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential negative effects of dissolving this arrangement, as it could lead to unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. According to Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, who currently oversees both the NSA and CyberCom, breaking up the existing UNITED STATES CYBERCOM-NSA command structure would hinder operational flexibility, adaptability, and quick response times.
So, why make this change? The Record quotes Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), who is expected to lead the Senate Armed Services Committee's cyber subcommittee next year, as stating that he had heard rumors about this possibility within Trump's transition team. "From what I'm understanding, it's the guys who used to favor silos who are advocating for it," Rounds said. "Sometimes it's necessary to break down those silos. I'm not a big fan of silos personally."
It appears that Trump could potentially carry out this change with minimal effort. The Record's sources suggest that Trump could simply sign an executive order to dissolve the dual hat arrangement. An anonymous former CYBERCOM collaborator told The Record, "Trump could write 'The dual-hat is over' on a piece of paper with the presidential seal and get his leadership to sign it. That could be it. That could be the certification. People tend to view the dual-hat as inviolable, but it's really quite precarious."
In the proposed strategy for Donald Trump's second term, there's a possibility of separating the leadership role for the NSA and CyberCom, shifting from the current 'tech-centric' dual hat arrangement. As the tech sector continues to evolve, ensuring the future of America's cyber security might require independent leadership for each entity, fostering specialization and efficiency.