Review - S 3618 Introduced – Cybersecurity Exemptions

Earlier this month, Sen Wyden (D,OR) introduced S 3618, the Federal Cybersecurity Oversight Act of 2022. The bill would slightly revise the process for exempting federal agencies from select information system cybersecurity requirements outlined in 6 USC 1523 while setting a time limit for those exemptions and establishing reporting requirements for those exemptions.

Wyden is not a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there is probably not enough influence to see this bill considered in Committee. I see nothing in the bill that would engender any significant opposition. The bill would likely advance in Committee with significant bipartisan support if considered.

This bill will not move to the floor of the Senate under regular order. It is not important enough to take up that much time, particularly as the mid-term elections approach. This bill might be able to pass in the Senate if considered under the unanimous consent process.

For more details about the provisions of this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-3618-introduced - subscription required.