A State Department official defended the decision to close an office dedicated to cyber diplomacy, saying it reflects an effort to integrate cyber and digital economy policymaking efforts.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson notified Congress in August of the department’s decision to shutter the cybersecurity coordinator’s office, an entity responsible for engaging with other countries on cyber policy. It is being folded into a bureau focused on economic affairs as part of a broader agency redesign.
The move has prompted concerns and criticism among lawmakers who worry that cybersecurity efforts at the agency would take a backseat at a time when hacking threats from criminals and nation-states abound.
