Congress last week passed legislation creating the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The new bill (H.R. 3359), which President Trump has signed, reorganizes DHS’s National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) into a new agency and prioritizes its mission as the federal leader for cyber and physical infrastructure security, according to a DHS press release.

The CISA Act represents “real progress” in the national effort to improve cybersecurity, said NPPD Under Secretary Christopher Krebs, who has been named as the new agency’s director.

“Elevating the cybersecurity mission within the Department of Homeland Security, streamlining our operations, and giving NPPD a name that reflects what it actually does will help better secure the nation’s critical infrastructure and cyber platforms,” said Krebs. “The changes will also improve the department’s ability to engage with industry and government stakeholders and recruit top cybersecurity talent.”

Cybersecurity is a major topic of concern in the railroad industry. To learn more, read this article in the April edition of Progressive Railroading.