Panel: Hacking Congress — The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend

Engaging Congress on Cybersecurity

Jeff Moss hosts a policy panel with Tarah Wheeler (cybersecurity fellow, New America), Jake Braun (CEO, Cambridge Global Advisors, former DHS official), and Harley Geiger (Director of Public Policy, Rapid7) on effective strategies for influencing federal cybersecurity policy.

Legislative Environment Analysis

The panel provides a realistic assessment of the current congressional environment: members' limited technical literacy, staff's critical gatekeeping role, and the bipartisan nature of cybersecurity issues that creates unusual coalition opportunities across party lines.

Effective Advocacy Strategies

Panelists share what actually works when engaging Congress: building relationships with staff rather than members, translating technical issues into constituent impact language, leveraging think tanks and policy fellowships (Cybersecurity Policy Fellow programs), and coalition building with unexpected allies (insurance industry, rural broadband advocates).

Hacker Community's Role

The panel argues that hackers have unique credibility in policy discussions that lobbyists lack — technical expertise that can't be dismissed. The key is learning to communicate findings in ways that translate to policy action: specific legal changes, budget line items, and regulatory requirements.