In a bid to enhance the U.S. response to cyber threats like Salt Typhoon, the House of Representatives passed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act on Monday. This legislation aims to formally designate the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration) as the lead federal agency responsible for protecting the nation's digital infrastructure.

Passed via voice vote, the bill now heads to the Senate, a repeat of its path last year, when it stalled in the upper chamber. Authored by Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) and Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.), the measure proposes renaming the existing Office of Policy Analysis and Development to the Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity. This rebranding signals a renewed focus on cyber coordination and policy-making.

Why It Matters Now: The Wake of Salt Typhoon

The urgency behind the bill is largely due to the Salt Typhoon cyberattacks, which targeted major U.S. telecom companies last year. McClellan referred to the attacks as a “sobering reminder” of the deep vulnerabilities embedded in America's digital backbone. The incident served as a stark warning about the extent of disruption cyberattacks can cause, spanning sectors like health care, telecommunications, and national security.

The Salt Typhoon attacks were attributed to a Chinese hacking group and have been described by the Senate Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat as “the worst telecom hack in our nation’s history.” Interviews with CyberScoop revealed widespread concerns about poor coordination and miscommunication between federal agencies and telecom companies, exacerbating the impact of the breach.

What the Legislation Proposes

The bill seeks to give the NTIA a clear and leading role in forming transparent, consensus-based, multistakeholder processes to guide cybersecurity and privacy policies in communications networks. Public-private partnerships will be key, encouraging collaboration between government agencies and industry players.

Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s energy subcommittee, emphasized the bill’s push for inclusive cooperation among security researchers, software developers, and telecoms. This unified approach will be vital as telecom companies attempt to remove any lingering elements of the Salt Typhoon malware, a task experts warn may be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Broader Cybersecurity Goals

Beyond immediate threat mitigation, the bill also directs NTIA to lead initiatives around security resilience and to drive innovation and commercialization in communications technology. The goal is to stay ahead of both state-sponsored hackers and cybercriminal groups targeting U.S. networks.

Rep. Obernolte underscored the rising risks in an increasingly digital world, stating: “As more and more of Americans’ lives move into a digital format, it’s leaving the information of Americans more and more vulnerable to cyberattacks.” He stressed the importance of equipping federal agencies with the tools to counter threats from not only foreign actors but also transnational criminal organizations.

Conclusion

The House’s passage of the NTIA Organization Act marks a strategic step toward centralized cybersecurity governance. With mounting threats like Salt Typhoon exposing systemic weaknesses, lawmakers are pushing for a stronger, more coordinated federal response. The spotlight now turns to the Senate, where action will determine whether this renewed cybersecurity push becomes law.