Infrastructure industry leaders are mounting a coordinated effort to revise crucial definitions in an upcoming cybersecurity reporting mandate, highlighting growing tensions between the private sector and federal regulators.
The coalition, representing significant infrastructure trade associations and industry groups, has raised concerns about the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) approach to implementing new cyber incident reporting requirements.
“The current definitions could create unnecessary regulatory burden while overlapping with existing requirements,” said a spokesperson for the coalition, who requested anonymity to discuss ongoing regulatory negotiations. “We need to ensure these new mandates enhance rather than complicate current security protocols.”
The dispute centers on how CISA defines key terms that would trigger mandatory reporting obligations. Industry representatives argue that overly broad definitions could flood the agency with minor incidents while creating redundant reporting requirements for organizations already subject to sector-specific regulations.
The pushback comes amid longstanding industry frustration with what some describe as insufficient engagement from CISA during the rule-making process. Several coalition members noted that their previous attempts to provide input on implementation challenges have not resulted in meaningful adjustments to the agency’s approach.
“We’re not opposing the fundamental need for cyber incident reporting,” explained one industry executive familiar with the negotiations. “But the devil is in the details, and these definitions will have real operational impacts across critical infrastructure sectors.”
CISA officials have maintained that robust reporting requirements are essential for maintaining national cybersecurity awareness and coordinating responses to emerging threats. The agency has previously committed to working with industry stakeholders to refine implementation details.
As the deadline for implementing the new mandate approaches, the coalition is intensifying its efforts to secure definition changes that would better align with existing industry practices and regulatory frameworks.
For more information about the cyber reporting mandate and industry response, visit [website].
This is a developing story.
