WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has decided to allow a single military official to continue to oversee both the National Security Agency and the military’s cyber command unit.
The Obama administration had considered splitting the posts amid revelations this year about broad government-run surveillance programs, both in the United States and overseas. But National Security Council spokesman Caitlin Hayden now says keeping the oversight responsibilities together in one post “is the most effective approach to accomplishing both agencies’ missions.”
Gen. Keith Alexander currently oversees both the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command. He is due to step down this spring.
The administration’s decision comes as the White House weighs changes to the controversial NSA surveillance. A semi-independent review board is due to submit a report to the White House this weekend.
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