SE North Carolina News

Washington, D.C. - Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) has spearheaded a letter to the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding its Thunderdome initiative. The letter, co-signed by Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), emphasizes the importance of implementing zero trust principles and architecture across the DoD Information Network to safeguard sensitive data and critical systems.

The Thunderdome initiative is a crucial component of the DoD's Zero Trust Strategy, bringing modern, commercial digital trust technologies to the Department. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) recognized the significance of Thunderdome, stating in their Committee Report that it "can act as a model for zero trust implementation across the Department of Defense."

The success of the Thunderdome prototype was acknowledged earlier this year during a hearing of the SASC Subcommittee on Cybersecurity. Plans for expanding the capabilities of Thunderdome across the enterprise through an acquisition strategy were discussed, with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) announcing the award of a follow-on production agreement for Thunderdome on July 28, 2023.

In light of the DoD's goal of achieving zero trust implementation DoD-wide by 2027, Senator Budd and his colleagues have requested further information from the DoD. The letter outlines several areas for clarification, including the execution of the $117 million provided to DISA in Fiscal Year 2023 for Thunderdome, plans and activities in Fiscal Year 2024 to accelerate the deployment of Thunderdome beyond DISA, and an analysis of any non-resource-related challenges hindering its deployment.

The letter also seeks details on the total amount of funds allocated in the Fiscal Year 2024 President's Budget for zero trust implementation across the DoD and each military department individually. Additionally, the senators have requested information on the other solutions being explored by the DoDIN's combatant commands, services, agencies, and field activities to meet zero trust implementation requirements.

The DoD has been given a deadline of November 10, 2023, to provide the requested information. Senator Budd and his colleagues expressed their appreciation for the DoD's consideration of their request and eagerly anticipate a prompt reply.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.budd.senate.gov/2023/10/26/budd-leads-colleagues-to-send-letter-on-dods-thunderdome-initiative/