Homeland Security gets an F in cybersecurity

The Bush administration has failed to protect its Dept. of Homeland Security computers from hackers and viruses. The agency charged with defending Americans from terrorism, natural disasters and other threats is vulnerable to attacks on its own information systems, according to a report from a congressional committee.

The Department of Homeland Security, which is charged with setting the government's cybersecurity agenda, earned a grade of F for the third straight year from the House Government Reform Committee, according to portions of the report obtained by washingtonpost.com. Other agencies whose failing marks went unchanged from 2004 include the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, State, Health and Human Services, Transportation and Veterans Affairs.

The committee will award the federal government an overall grade of D-plus for computer security in 2005, a score that remains virtually unchanged from 2004.

Several agencies saw a considerable drop in their scores. The Justice Department went to a D in 2005 from a B-minus in 2004, while the Interior Department earned failing marks after getting a C-plus in 2004.

The scores are "unacceptably low," committee Chairman Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) said in a statement. "DHS must have its house in order and should become a security leader among agencies. What's holding them up?"

What, indeed?

Perhaps Chairman Davis would be willing to share his thoughts with his colleagues in the House and Senate who insist that criticism of the president remains the greatest threat to homeland security. He might be able to put the issue into perspective for them.