Congress Funds Cybersecurity: Spending Bill Allocates over $1 Billion to Cybersecurity

The final spending bill of the 113^th Congress, which keeps the government doors open until September 30^th of 2015, was passed by the House on December 11^th, the Senate on the 13^th, and signed by the President on December 16^th. It is a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill that will direct well over $1 billion toward cybersecurity. Among other things, it will provide $675,500,000 for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) scientific and technical core programs, which includes $15,000,000 for the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, up to $60,700,000 for cybersecurity research and development, $4,000,000 for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, and $16,500,000 for the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace. It also allocates funds to various other federal agencies specifically for cybersecurity, as well as to federal investigative agencies to combat cybercrime. Some of the funds are directed toward developing a more robust cybersecurity workforce, including $35 million to the General Services Administration (GSA) for construction of a “civilian cyber campus” that would house federal employees and contractors dedicated to the civilian cyber security mission. According to a GSA prospectus on the project, the goals of the project are to create a centralized, visible, civilian-led organization that presents a globally fused cyber capability; ensure scalability to accommodate future needs; promote secure collaboration while leveraging shared capabilities and infrastructure; enhance public-private cooperation with increased opportunities for collaboration; optimize federal resources (capital + human + physical); and develop a working environment to support the recruitment, development, and retention of best-in-class cyber professionals.  The campus would be located in the Washington D.C. area.   Please contact Christin McMeley with any inquiries at 202.973.4264.