*EPF205 02/15/00
Fact Sheet: Key Initiatives to Protect Federal Computer Systems
(Includes major expansion of federal R&D effort) (450)

The Clinton Administration issued a fact sheet February 15 on key budget initiatives designed to protect the government's computer systems.

Following is the text of the White House fact sheet:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

February 15, 2000

Fact Sheet

Cyber Security Budget Initiatives

The Clinton Administration continues its aggressive support for protecting our critical infrastructures through the budget process. President Clinton has increased funding on critical infrastructure substantially over the past three years, including a 15% increase in the FY2000 request of $2.0 billion over last year's $1.75 billion appropriation. This includes an increase from $451 million to $606 million in funding for research and development. The President has also developed and funded new initiatives to defend the nation's computer systems from malicious cyber activity. The Administration has developed and provided full or pilot funding for the following key initiatives designed to protect the federal government's computer systems:

-- Establishing a Federal Cyber Services Training and Education initiative led by OPM and NSF, which will fund a Bachelor's or Master's-level education in information security in exchange for a commitment to enter federal service; and a program to establish competencies and certify our existing IT workforce. ($25 million)

-- Establishing a permanent Expert Review Team (ERT) at the Commerce Department's NIST that will help agencies conduct vulnerability analyses and develop CIP plans. ($5 million)

-- Designing a Federal Intrusion Detection Network (FIDNET) to protect vital systems in Federal civilian agencies, and to ensure the rapid implementation of system "patches" for known software defects. ($10 million)

-- Funding 7 Public Key Infrastructure Models pilot programs in FY2001 at different federal agencies. ($7 million)

-- Expanding Federal research and development investments in computer security by more then 32 percent in the FY2001 budget. ($606 million)

-- Establishing an Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection that will combine federal and private efforts to fill key gaps in critical infrastructure research and development. ($50 million)

In addition, the President announced that he has requested a $9 million supplemental appropriation for FY2000 to jump-start several of these important cyber programs before the start of the new fiscal year. This will fund:

-- $4 million to establish the Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection;

-- $2 million for the FIDNET Joint Program Office;

-- $2 million for the Federal Cyber Service programs; and

-- $1 million for the establishment of an Expert Review Team at NIST.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
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