Franklin Opening Statement at DOD Hearing on It, Cybersecurity, and Information Assurance

Washington, DC, June 29, 2021
U.S. Representative Scott Franklin (R-FL) delivered the following opening statement at a hearing on the Department of Defense information technology, cybersecurity, and information assurance for FY22.
Rep. Franklin's remarks as prepared for delivery:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you Mr. Sherman for your time here today. The Department's information technology and cybersecurity budget may not be the most riveting subject, but it is one of the most critical.
IT undergirds every part of the Department. Whether it is protecting our defense networks from adversaries, managing the DoD's spectrum to ensure swift, clear communication with our troops around the world, or deploying secure software, IT is foundational from weapon systems to financial management.
In an enterprise as large as the DoD, with its many missions, different systems, and multiple stakeholders, we are fortunate there has not been a catastrophic IT failure, rendering our equipment no better than paperweights, or allowing adversaries to sit in our networks and capture sensitive information.
I am encouraged by the direction of the Department, but this is not an area where we can afford to slow down. Without strategic vision, resourcing, investment in the workforce and buy-in from leadership in the Department, failure is possible.
The IT and cyberspace budget represents roughly seven percent of the DoD budget, so every dollar must be used wisely. I look forward to hearing your views and justifications for the budget, and how you are using the dollars to pursue modernization, efficiencies, and security.
The DoD has a technology deficit and unless we make both the necessary investments and prioritizations, we risk weakening our national security, and none of us wants that.