Rounds to chair Senate cybersecurity subcommittee

Sen. Mike Rounds has been selected to chair the newly formed Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity.

Rounds said the subcommittee will be tasked with oversight and legislation for policies and programs relating to the Defense Department’s cyber forces and capabilities. He said a particular concern is the Defense Department’s role in responding to an attack on the nation’s civilian critical infrastructure and in deterring bad actors from conducting such an attack.

Rounds said that cyber-attacks are the newest, most sophisticated forms of attack threatening the country’s national security today. A cyber-attack on our critical infrastructure, including electric grids, transportation systems and water supplies, could cause significant destruction, or worse, lead to loss of life.

Rounds is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is chaired by Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona).