Critical Cybersecurity Law Faces impending Expiration
A vital piece of legislation bolstering AmericaS cybersecurity defenses – the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015 – is nearing its expiration date of September 30th, prompting urgent calls for reauthorization from national security experts and government officials. The law facilitates crucial information sharing between the public and private sectors, a collaboration widely credited with preventing meaningful financial losses and strengthening the nation’s overall cybersecurity posture.
There is broad bipartisan consensus on the need to renew CISA. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has emphasized the law’s importance, noting the strengthened public-private partnerships it has enabled through its established information-sharing guidelines. Experts agree that a straightforward reauthorization, allowing Congress time to address potential technical improvements, represents the most effective path forward.
The current framework has proven its value over the past decade, fostering a culture where sharing threat intelligence is prioritized. This collaborative approach is especially critical in the face of escalating cyber threats from a diverse range of actors. These include Chinese groups leveraging ransomware through vulnerabilities like those found in SharePoint, Iranian actors deploying ransomware for political disruption, and the hundreds of criminal ransomware groups operating globally.
As former FBI officials have stressed, effective cybersecurity relies on mutual aid and shared defence. “we can’t help you if we don’t hear from others, and we can’t help others if we don’t hear from you,” highlights the principle underpinning CISA’s success.
Allowing CISA to lapse would have severe consequences, perhaps devastating small businesses, endangering critical infrastructure, and weakening America’s position as a global leader in cybersecurity. The urgency of the situation demands immediate Congressional action to prevent future, preventable attacks.
This issue was recently highlighted in an article by Cipher Brief Expert Cynthia kaiser, originally published in Fortune magazine.
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Explore further:
Homeland Security Committee Hearing on CISA Reauthorization: https://homeland.house.gov/2025/05/15/cisa-2015-has-become-more-vital-than-ever-chairman-garbarino-opens-hearing-to-weigh-reauthorization-reforms/
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