The Pentagon doesn’t know who’s in charge for responding to a massive cyber attack

Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed.

The Pentagon lacks a clear chain of command for responding to significant cyber attacks on domestic targets, according to a Government Accountability Office report. This ambiguity raises concerns about the Defense Department's ability to effectively support civilian agencies during such incidents.

Key points from this article:

• The Government Accountability Office found inconsistencies in Defense Department documents regarding whether U.S. Northern Command or U.S. Cyber Command should lead responses to cyber attacks.
• How the lack of clear rules affects the Pentagon's response capabilities, creating uncertainty about which Department of Defense officials would assist civil authorities during a cyber incident.
• Why this matters for national security, particularly in scenarios involving attacks on critical infrastructure like the electrical grid or financial systems, as it hampers coordinated responses.