Shaheen's Legislation to Ban Kaspersky Software Government-Wide Passes Senate As Part of Annual Defense Bill

Shaheen's Legislation to Ban Kaspersky Software Government-Wide Passes Senate As Part of Annual Defense Bill

**Shaheen’s amendment works in tandem with the Trump administration’s directive last week to all federal agencies to remove Kaspersky software within 90 days**

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement after her amendment that bans the use of Kaspersky Lab software across the federal government passed the Senate as part of the FY 18 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Her amendment was added to the bill on Thursday through a voice vote. Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced that all federal agencies must remove Kaspersky software from computers within 90 days.

“The case against Kaspersky Lab is overwhelming,” said Shaheen. “The strong ties between Kaspersky Lab and the Kremlin are alarming and well-documented. I’m very pleased that the Senate has acted in a bipartisan way on my amendment that removes a real vulnerability to our national security. I applaud the Trump administration for heeding my call to remove Kaspersky Lab software from all federal computers. It’s important that this prohibition also be a part of statute and be expanded to the entire federal government, as my amendment would do. Considering the strong bipartisan, bicameral support for this proposal, I’m optimistic this will soon be signed into law.”

Senator Shaheen is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Earlier this month, Senator Shaheen authored an editorial for the New York Times, warning of the dangers of the United States government using Kaspersky Lab products.