Washington, D.C. – Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) released the following statement regarding the resignations from President Trump’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). 

“For months I have repeatedly raised concerns about President Trump’s lack of action with respect to preventing catastrophic cyber attacks against our country and I have received zero response from the President,” Senator Cantwell said. “He has actively proposed slashing the budget of the very program tasked with protecting our energy infrastructure from cyber attack. Now several members of his own National Infrastructure Advisory Group have resigned in protest of this inexcusable negligence. Hopefully, this will be the wakeup call this administration needs to do their jobs and protect our country.”

The NIAC officials’ letter of resignation stated that, “our experience to date has not demonstrated that the Administration is adequately attentive to the pressing national security matters within the NIAC’s purview, or responsive to sound advice received from experts and advisors on these matters.” They went on to cite President Trump’s, “insufficient attention to the growing threats to the cybersecurity of the critical systems upon which all Americans depend…”

Senator Cantwell sent a letter to President Trump June 22, 2017 following a round of cyber attacks urging the administration to prioritize the cybersecurity of our energy infrastructure. In March the Senator led a letter to President Trump urging the Department of Energy to conduct an analysis of Russian capabilities concerning cyber attacks on U.S. energy infrastructure.

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