EARLY CYBER THREATS

The Biden administration is grappling with two major cyber incidents in its first 50 days in office, underscoring the challenge the new White House faces from foreign actors.

Russia and China are suspected in the two incidents, which may have compromised thousands of federal, state and private groups for long periods of time before discovery. The effect has been to move cybersecurity up the list of the administration’s priorities.

“If they had thought they weren’t going to do it, I think that option has been removed, I think they have to prioritize cybersecurity,” Mark Montgomery, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told The Hill on Monday.

The two compromises have spurred some members of Congress to call on the administration to create “rules of the road” on international cyber engagement, and to press for President Biden to appoint a White House cyber czar, a position that remains unfilled two months into his administration.