OVERNIGHT CYBERSECURITY: Dems threaten to block cyber add-on

Welcome to OVERNIGHT CYBERSECURITY, your daily rundown of the biggest news in the world of hacking and data privacy. We’re here to connect the dots as leaders in government, policy and industry wrap their arms around cyberthreats. What lies ahead for Congress, the administration and the latest company under siege? Whether you’re a consumer, a techie or a D.C. lifer, we’re here to give you …

THE BIG STORIES:

–WAIT, HOLD UP: Senate Democrats are lining up against a potential Friday vote to attach an ostensibly bipartisan cybersecurity bill to the contentious defense authorization bill. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is trying to combine the two measures in effort to rush cyber legislation — intended to boost the public-private exchange of hacking information — in the wake of the massive data breach that exposed 4 million federal workers’ records. But the left is crying foul, arguing it should have a chance to offer privacy-enhancing amendments on the information-sharing bill. The top four Democrats, the bill’s Democratic co-sponsor and numerous other Democrats who had supported the cyber bill are now refusing to support the bill as a defense add-on. The bill’s GOP co-sponsor, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) shot back: “If they want to vote against a cyber bill that they were for, that they’re only against because of the way we’re doing it, then let them do it,” the Intelligence Committee chairman told The Hill. To read our full piece, click here.

{mosads}–MORE TO COME?: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told The Hill Wednesday that the mammoth hack of 4 million federal workers’ data could be much worse than previously imagined. “I hope I’m not betraying anything, but I’ve heard unofficially that the damage is even bigger than was first reported,” said McCain, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. The senator added that he “can’t confirm” specifics about just how big the breach might be. Officials have said investigations into the data breach at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) are ongoing and that new facts may emerge. To read our full piece, click here.

–LESS THAN PLEASED: A major federal workers’ union is unhappy with how the OPM is handling fallout from the massive data theft of millions of federal employees’ records. The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), which represents over 110,000 government employees across the country, said it has received limited answers from the government and insufficient customer service from the company hired to help protect their members from identity fraud following the hack. “Right now, federal employees are rightfully frustrated with the response offered following this cybersecurity breach,” said NFFE National President William Dougan. To read our full piece, click here.

AN UPDATE ON CYBER POLICY:

–FUND THAT CYBER. A Senate subcommittee on Wednesday advanced a $51.1 billion bill to fund the departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as science agencies. The Senate Appropriations Committee will mark up the measure Thursday, along with two other fiscal 2016 spending bills. A summary of the bill, the text of which won’t be released until Thursday, said it contains $965 million more than current levels and $985 million less than President Obama’s request.

The bill funds a number of agencies critical to encryption quality in the U.S. The DOJ houses the FBI, while Commerce includes a standards-setting agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The House recently passed its version of the bill with $51.4 billion in funding. Lawmakers tacked on two amendments to that measure in an effort to stymie what they see as attempts by the Obama administration to weaken encryption.

WHO’S IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

–MEDICAL INFORMATICS ENGINEERING. Who? Well, more people might know soon after the health information technology vendor revealed Wednesday that hackers had made off with some of the health information the company stores. There’s no word yet on how many people might have been affected, but the company says names, addresses, birth dates and, most importantly, Social Security numbers, had been compromised. The FBI said it is working “to identify the nature and scope of the recently announced intrusion.”

A LOOK AHEAD:

FRIDAY

–The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule on lawsuits to block the FCC’s net neutrality rules before they take effect Friday.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Links from our blog, The Hill, and around the Web.

Civil liberties advocates in both parties are sounding alarms about a Republican attempt to kneecap a small federal privacy watchdog. (The Hill)

Two senators called for additional funding for OPM in the wake of a cyberattack that compromised the personal information of millions of federal workers. (The Hill)

European police have arrested 49 suspected members of a major cyber crime ring spanning Spain, Portugal and Italy. (The Hill)

A cyberattack on the German parliament is still stealing data and could force officials to replace the entire computer system. (Reuters)

A cybersecurity firm said it has uncovered a cyber espionage campaign targeting hotels that hosted Iran nuclear negotiations. (The Associated Press)

Meet the security researcher who hacks municipal traffic systems around the world. (The New York Times)

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) penned an op-ed on how the Pentagon can better enlist Silicon Valley’s help. (Wired)

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