President Donald Trump’s former homeland security adviser tasked with overseeing cybersecurity was forced out earlier this year, and he’s worried that no one is continuing his work.
Tom Bossert and his cybersecurity deputy Rob Joyce were pushed out of the White House by new national security adviser John Bolton, who shrunk the National Security Council around himself, and the former Trump adviser is alarmed at what he’s seen since leaving, reported Michael Isikoff for Yahoo News.
“On cyber, there is no clear person and or clear driver, and there is no clear muscle memory,” Bossert said.
He said coordinating cybersecurity was a complex and uncharted task, and he’s worried that no one is really focusing on that in the Trump administration.
“In some way playing jazz music, improvising policy, because there is no clear playbook for it,” Bossert said. “And so, yes, if you’re asking me do I have any concerns? The concern would be who’s minding the store in the coordination and development … of new and creative cyber policies and strategies.”
Bolton has downgraded Bossert’s former position and appointed Coast Guard Adm. Doug Fears to replace him, and the former homeland security adviser was alarmed by Trump’s behavior after the Helsinki summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“Look, I don’t mean to pile on him,” Bossert said. “I’ve stated I was pretty disappointed — I think others have — in the president’s press conference performance. He needed to correct that, it seemed to be appeasing Putin far too much. In fact, it seemed oddly to suggest he believed Putin’s galling assertions and dismissals.”
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