| NO SWEAT: The nominees selected by President Biden to fill the top two cybersecurity positions in the federal government faced little opposition during their Senate nomination hearing on Thursday amid growing bipartisan concerns about increasing cyber threats. Former National Security Agency (NSA) Deputy Director Chris Inglis, nominated by Biden to fill the new position of national cyber director at the White House, and Jen Easterly, nominated to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), stressed to senators Thursday the need to confront mounting cyberattacks. “It will not stop of its own accord, it is not a fire raging across the prairie that once it’s consumed the fuel it will simply stop and we can simply wait for that moment, we must stand in,” Inglis testified to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on cyber threats. “It will never go away completely, but we can bring it down, we can bring it to heel significantly.” Easterly, who previously served as the deputy for counterterrorism at the NSA, stressed the need to “anticipate the unimaginable” when combating threats in cyberspace. “Even as we contend with the billions of daily intrusions against our networks by malicious actors, I believe that as a nation, we remain at great risk of a catastrophic cyberattack,” Easterly testified. While both Inglis and Easterly faced tough technical questions about their plans for the roles, no members of the committee on Thursday expressed opposition to the nominations. Read more about the nominations here. BATTLES ABROAD: The United States on Thursday condemned Nigeria’s move to suspend Twitter in the country after its president had a post removed by the platform. “Unduly restricting the ability of Nigerians to report, gather, and disseminate opinions and information has no place in a democracy,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. “Freedom of expression and access to information both online and offline are foundational to prosperous and secure democratic societies.” Twitter deleted a post by President Muhammadu Buhari last week for violating its policy on abusive behavior. The post appeared to threaten secessionist groups in the southeast of Nigeria that had attacked government offices, which the platform determined should be taken down. On Friday, the government announced via Twitter that the platform would be suspended. The next day the country’s attorney general announced that Nigerians dodging that ban would be prosecuted. Read more. NOT SO FAST: Sweeping legislation to bolster U.S. technology manufacturing in an effort to make the nation more competitive with China is on track to be one of the few major bipartisan achievements this year — but not without overcoming additional hurdles in the House. Following Senate passage on Tuesday after a grueling few weeks of negotiations, House members are preparing to advance their own measures to boost scientific research and exert diplomatic pressure on Beijing on issues like climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. The House is moving forward with legislation separate from the Senate-passed measure that ultimately garnered bipartisan support in a 68-32 vote. That means it could be weeks or even months before the two chambers can reconcile any differences and get a final bill to the White House. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) acknowledged on Wednesday that “the House could bring in additional priorities,” but added he was “intent on seeing the major thrust of this legislation become law.” “The bill is so important to the future of America that the House and Senate must come together and send President Biden a bill that he is very, very eager to sign,” Schumer said. Read more about the legislation here. | 
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