Biden administration News

US Talks Global Cybersecurity Without a Key Player: Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid an epidemic of ransomware attacks, the U.S. is discussing cybersecurity strategy this week with 30 countries while leaving out one key player: Russia. The country that, unwittingly or not, hosts many of the criminal syndicates behind …

US Poised to Sue Contractors Who Don’t Report Cyber Breaches

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is poised to sue government contractors and other companies who receive U.S. government grants if they fail to report breaches of their computer systems or misrepresent their cybersecurity practices, the department’s No. 2 official …

Crypto Channels Targeted in Biden’s Fight Against Ransomware

The Biden administration plans a fresh campaign against ransomware attacks through sanctions to cut off criminals’ cryptocurrency pipelines, and it urged companies to report extortion attempts and better protect themselves from them. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo told reporters that …

Biden Administration Unveils Plan to Address ‘Silent Killer’ Extreme Heat

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is moving to protect workers and communities from extreme heat after a dangerously hot summer that spurred an onslaught of drought-worsened wildfires and caused hundreds of deaths from the Pacific Northwest to hurricane-ravaged Louisiana. …

Biden Vaccine Mandate Will Test OSHA’s Authority

WASHINGTON — The U.S. agency in charge of the Biden administration’s new rules requiring COVID-19 vaccination at many private workplaces faces stiff challenges in developing and enforcing the mandate. President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that all staff at U.S. …

Disability Benefits a Relief to People Infected With COVID

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Biden administration says some long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms can be considered a disability under federal law. The White House held a virtual presentation earlier this month for people affected by so-called “long-haul” COVID-19 to explain how …

Agency Eyes ‘Right-To-Repair’ Rules to Aid Consumers, Shops

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans would be freer to repair their broken cellphones, computers, videogame consoles and even tractors themselves or to use independent repair shops under changes being eyed by federal regulators that target manufacturer restrictions. Responding to a new …

US Announces New Cybersecurity Requirements for Critical Pipeline Owners

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday required owners and operators of critical pipelines that transport hazardous liquids and natural gas to implement “urgently needed protections against cyber intrusions.” It was the second security directive issued by the …

U.S. Unveils Plan to Protect Power Grid From Foreign Hackers

The White House unveiled on Tuesday a 100-day plan intended to protect the U.S. power grid from cyber-attacks, mainly by creating a stronger relationship between U.S. national security agencies and the mostly private utilities that run the electrical system. The …

Software Vendors Would Have to Disclose Breaches to U.S. Government Users Under Planned Order

SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON – A planned Biden administration executive order will require many software vendors to notify their federal government customers when the companies have a cybersecurity breach, according to a draft seen by Reuters. A National Security Council spokeswoman said …