MTS CYBER Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Representative McDowell, asks the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to check if the Coast Guard has enough money and staff to handle its cybersecurity duties. The GAO would have 270 days to finish this review and report its findings to several committees in Congress.
• The review focuses on the Coast Guard’s role in protecting the Marine Transportation System, which includes ports, ships, and waterways. These systems handle over $2 trillion in economic activity, and the bill aims to ensure the Coast Guard can properly oversee the new cybersecurity rules it recently put in place.
• Lawmakers are concerned that while the Coast Guard has more power to regulate cybersecurity, it might not have enough trained people or funding to actually do the job. They want to know if the Coast Guard can effectively check if companies are following the rules and if they are giving enough guidance to the industry.
• While the government recently set aside $20 billion for port infrastructure, this bill points out that none of that money was specifically labeled for the Coast Guard's cybersecurity needs. This audit will help Congress decide if more money needs to be set aside in future budgets to keep our ports safe from hackers.

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