Deccan Chronicle

Trump’s cybersecur­ity team resigns en masse

Panel accuses Trump of ignoring security matters

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Washington, Aug. 27: Seven members of Donald Trump’s cybersecur­ity team, including an Indian-origin data scientist, have resigned, accusing the US President of ignoring the pressing national security matters.

In a group resignatio­n letter, the members of the National Infrastruc­ture Advisory Council (NIAC), whose purview includes national cybersecur­ity, cited both specific shortfalls in the administra­tions approach to cybersecur­ity, and broader concerns that have undermined the “moral infrastruc­ture” of the US,

Fortune reported. “You have given insufficie­nt attention to the growing threats to the cybersecur­ity of the critical systems upon which all Americans depend, including those impacting the systems supporting our democratic election process,” the letter reads.

They also cited his failure “to denounce intoleranc­e and violence of hate groups” when asked about the “horrific violences in Charlottes­ville” as one of the reasons why they left.

The resignatio­n also faulted Mr Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord,

Fortune reported. Unite the Right march was organised on August 12 to protest against the proposed removal of a statue of General Robert E Lee, who commanded the pro-slavery Confederat­e forces during the American Civil War. Violence broke out after they were confronted by anti-racism groups and later a car ploughed into one group of antiracism protesters in Charlottes­ville.

Mr Trump had blamed both sides including the “alt-left” for the deadly violence.

The members, who were appointed under the previous administra­tion, resigned just before the panel was supposed to hold its quarterly business meeting.

They include Obamaera officials: the first ever White House Chief Data Scientist D.J. Patil, Office of Science and Technology Policy Chief of Staff Cristin Dorgelo and White House Council on Environmen­tal Quality Managing Director Christy Goldfuss.

Mr Trump recently lost two other panels before the NIAC members resigned. His administra­tion dissolved the Manufactur­ing Council and the Strategic and Policy Forum, but not before a good number of their members already left.

In a report issued just after the mass resignatio­ns, the NIAC issued a report saying dramatic steps were required to prevent a possible “9/11level cyberattac­k.”

 ??  ?? AFP Supporters of the Pakistan Defense Council, an alliance of hardline Islamist religious leaders and politician­s, gather during an anti-US protest in Islamabad on Sunday. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters in Karachi. —
AFP Supporters of the Pakistan Defense Council, an alliance of hardline Islamist religious leaders and politician­s, gather during an anti-US protest in Islamabad on Sunday. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters in Karachi. —

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