Maryland lawmakers build 'Fort Cyber'

Lawmakers call it “Fort Cyber,” a cluster of federal agencies and companies around the I-95 corridor that builds cyberweapons and researches new ways to fight foreign hackers. And for that, Maryland can thank a congressional delegation — led by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) — that long has steered hundreds of millions of dollars in federal cyberaid back home.

Maryland lawmakers have jockeyed for years to position their state as an epicenter for protecting the nation’s digital defenses. At Fort Meade, they’ve set up U.S. Cyber Command, the Pentagon’s coordination point for cyberoffense and defense. They’ve helped incentivize companies to set up shop nearby. And they’ve brought home big federal cybersecurity grants — including a recent $10 million check for a new cybercenter tasked to work with industry. The lawmakers who have helped make Maryland a hub for cybersecurity say their efforts reflect the seriousness of the threat and fit the state perfectly because it’s already home to the National Security Agency and other military and intelligence centers.