Shutdown closes cyber threat sharing program

The Big Story

Cyber law lapses with government shutdown

A law allowing private companies to share information about cybersecurity threats with the government expired Wednesday after Congress failed to reauthorize the legislation amid a wider shutdown fight.

The Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015, which initially appeared poised to be extended as part of a temporary stopgap measure, lapsed as lawmakers failed to avert a shutdown — a pause that lawmakers and experts warn could restrict a key pipeline of threat intelligence.

“If we don’t extend these critical authorities, we will lose one of our most effective defenses against cyberattacks, as our adversaries’ attacks continue to grow more aggressive and more sophisticated,” Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) warned Tuesday