U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) was appointed chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection on Tuesday.
Following the appointment, Ogles now leads the committee overseeing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the cybersecurity missions performed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and works to improve cooperation between federal and state governments on critical infrastructure.
“American national security rests on secured cyber infrastructure. As chairman of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, I vow to leverage every federal asset to fortify the cyber capabilities of every American city,” said Ogles. “I vow to hold accountable the hackers, doxxers, and cyber terrorists waging war against our land. America First cybersecurity is my mission, and I will not waver.”
Ogles also expressed gratitude to the committee’s former chairman, Representative Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), who similarly announced his colleague’s appointment on Tuesday.
“At a time when our nation faces unprecedented cyber threats from sophisticated adversaries, Congressman Ogles is already leading legislation to reauthorize and enhance the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and create a whole-of-government effort to defend against cyber threats from the Chinese Communist Party,” said Garbarino. “As the Committee continues to work with the Trump administration to refocus CISA back to its core mission, Congressman Ogles’ leadership and vision will be instrumental in guiding that effort.”
Garbarino stated, “As the former chairman of this subcommittee, I know he will continue that mission with strength and clarity as we work together to secure America’s cyber future.”
The announcement came just one day after Ogles successfully passed the Protecting Information by Local leaders for Agency Resilience (PILLAR) Act, a cybersecurity bill aimed at strengthening local governments to attacks using artificial intelligence (AI).
“My PILLAR Act passed with strong support because cybersecurity is national security. This legislation puts America First by giving our states, counties, and small towns the tools they need to combat foreign cyber adversaries,” said Ogles.
Ogles was recently endorsed for reelection by President Donald Trump. He was first elected to represent Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District in 2022.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Andy Ogles” by Andy Ogles.
