Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy established

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of State has announced the establishment of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to curb the rash of cyberattacks on U.S. companies that have taken place over the past year.

The CDP Bureau’s mission, as outlined by the U.S. Department of State, is to “lead and coordinate the Department’s work on cyberspace and digital diplomacy to encourage responsible state behavior in cyberspace and advance policies that protect the integrity and security of the infrastructure of the Internet, serve U.S. interests, promote competitiveness, and uphold democratic values.”

As a key piece of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s modernization agenda, the CDP Bureau will address the national security challenges, economic opportunities, and implications for U.S. values associated with cyberspace, digital technologies, and digital policy.

The CDP Bureau includes three policy units: International Cyberspace Security, International Information and Communications Policy, and Digital Freedom. Ultimately, the bureau will be led by a Senate-confirmed Ambassador-at-Large. Jennifer Bachus, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, is serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the CDP bureau. Bachus will serve as Senior Bureau Official until an Ambassador-at-Large is confirmed.

In addition, Michele Markoff is serving as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cyberspace Security, Stephen Anderson is serving as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Information and Communications Policy, and Blake Peterson is serving as Acting Digital Freedom Coordinator.

On April 4, U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price called the CDP Bureau “a major step in realizing the Secretary’s vision for the modernization of American diplomacy and the Department of State. The CDP Bureau includes policy units focused on international cyberspace security, international communications and information policy, and digital freedom as well.

“As we said when the Secretary announced his intent to establish this bureau late last year, the CDP Bureau is a key piece of a broader effort to orient the State Department for a fundamentally new era in global affairs, a world in which the climate crisis, global health, and emerging technologies are increasingly at the core of our common endeavors with allies and partners and our competition with rivals and adversaries.”  

Price added, “Secretary Blinken is working to build a State Department ready to meet the tests of the 21st century. Within this department, the CDP Bureau will lead and coordinate U.S. cyber and digital diplomacy to encourage responsible state behavior in cyberspace, protect the integrity and security of the internet, promote a competitive digital economy, and uphold democratic values.”

Blinken announced the formation of the CDP in October 2021 as part of the U.S. Department of State’s plan to “modernize the purpose and institution of American diplomacy.”

“On cyberspace and emerging technologies, we have a major stake in shaping the digital revolution that’s happening around us and making sure that it serves our people, protects our interests, boosts our competitiveness, and upholds our values,” he said in October. “We want to prevent cyberattacks that put our people, our networks, companies, and critical infrastructure at risk.”

The establishment of the CDP Bureau comes on the heels of a mounting number of cyberattacks in the U.S. and around the world over the last 12 months, most notably SolarWinds, Colonial Pipeline, JBS USA, Microsoft and Kaseya.