Chairman Garbarino, Rep. Fong Lead Cyber Roundtable with CISA, Regional Stakeholders in California’s Central Valley

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Last Friday, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) and member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA) held a roundtable with officials from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and stakeholders from California's Central Valley, including representatives from military installations, local and state government, and critical infrastructure sectors, to examine the threat environment, workforce challenges, and vulnerabilities facing essential systems.

Roundtable participants discussed how federal resources, particularly through CISA, are supporting local partners and where additional coordination or support may be needed. The conversation focused on strengthening partnerships, identifying gaps, and ensuring that federal efforts are aligned with the operational realities facing communities responsible for securing critical infrastructure.

The members and regional stakeholders were joined by Chris Butera, the Acting Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at CISA; Thomas Gonzales, the Deputy Regional Director for CISA Region 9; and Joseph Oregon, the Chief of Cybersecurity for CISA Region 9.

"The cyber threats facing critical infrastructure that Americans rely on have evolved dramatically in recent years, with our adversaries growing increasingly sophisticated. Attacks targeting sectors like telecommunications, energy, water, and transportation systems require a proactive, whole-of-society response," Chairman Garbarino said. "I appreciate Congressman Fong bringing together such an extraordinary group of public and private sector leaders who are on the frontlines of protecting these systems and know the challenges we face firsthand. From bolstering the cyber workforce and information sharing, to ensuring our state and local partners have the tools and resources from CISA to defend our communities, our discussions are invaluable as we work together to strengthen our cybersecurity posture."

"Cybersecurity is national security. As threats grow and evolve, we must constantly be at the ready," Rep. Fong said. "That means bringing together leaders from every level of government and the private sector to strengthen our defenses and stay ahead of emerging risks. The Central Valley is home to vital infrastructure, agriculture, energy, transportation, and military assets that must be protected. This roundtable will enhance our strategies, ensuring our region is prepared to respond to emerging threats while building a strong cybersecurity workforce for the future."

"As the Nation's cyber defense agency, we are excited to engage with critical infrastructure entities where they are," said Chris Butera, CISA Acting Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity. "By joining Rep. Fong and Chairman Garbarino's roundtable, we are strengthening collaboration with critical infrastructure and communities to share insights, address emerging threats, and help them enhance their security and resilience."

Last Thursday, Chairman Garbarino and Rep. Fong met with executives from the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB). POLA and POLB are two of the largest and most complex container ports in the U.S., with both the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enabling legal trade and protecting our maritime borders. Cybersecurity threats facing the maritime sector rose more than 100 percent last year compared to 2024, demanding a heightened security posture to protect the resilience of American critical infrastructure, supply chains, and homeland security.

Background:

In November 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5078, the "Protecting Information by Local Leaders for Agency Resilience Act " (PILLAR Act), and H.R. 2659, the "Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act," legislation cosponsored by Chairman Garbarino and led by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), who serves as Chairman of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee. The PILLAR Act would reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, which provides grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems and operational technology systems, including those using artificial intelligence (AI). Read statements of endorsement here.

The "Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act" would establish an interagency task force, led by CISA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to address the widespread cybersecurity threats posed by state-sponsored cyber actors associated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Last month, the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection convened a hearing to assess the increasing national security threats and economic risks posed by AI, robotics, and autonomous sensing technologies developed by companies linked to China. Watch Rep. Fong's opening statement here.

In January 2026, the Subcommittee convened a hearing to examine how the federal government and private sector can more effectively partner to build up a proactive, coordinated, and forward-leaning cyber posture. That month, the Committee held an oversight hearing with testimony from CISA's acting director, along with other DHS component leadership, and examined the agency's workforce and readiness to combat sophisticated threats.

Read the Committee's "Cyber Threat Snapshot" here. Read Chairman Garbarino's op-ed on the importance of private sector coordination in the cybersecurity mission here.

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