Cybersecurity Head Quits Over Government Turf War

In his resignation letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Beckstrom, in effect, complained that his agency's hands were tied because of a lack of support from the NSA.

According to Beckstrom, the NSA interfered with the National Cyber Security Center to the point where it "effectively controls DHS cyber efforts," and undermines his agency's efforts to do its job.

"While acknowledging the critical importance of NSA to our intelligence efforts, I believe this is a bad strategy on multiple grounds," wrote Beckstrom in his resignation letter that was published by The Wall Street Journal.

Beckstrom listed the accomplishments of the NCSC, which he said should be a collaboration between state, local and tribal governments, the private sector and other federal parties.

"The threats to our democratic processes are significant if all top-level government network security and monitoring are handled by any one organization," he said.

The NCSC was created last year by President Bush, with the intent of overseeing the protection of the government's network infrastructure against threats, and answers to the DHS. According to estimates, cybersecurity initiatives are expected to be $6 billion in 2009 and $30 billion to $40 billion in the next few years, according to The Wall Street Journal. President Obama is currently conducting a 60-day review of the agency.