Former Biden cyber chief defends Cyber Trust Mark in the face of FCC review

Anne Neuberger, then Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, at the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer Awards in December 2023. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Kelsey Dornfeld)

By David DiMolfetta • Jun 28, 2025

The top cyber official who served in former President Joe Biden’s White House is backing a federal device-labeling initiative she helped oversee after the Federal Communications Commission launched a national security review of the program’s alleged links to China. She argued that the effort is precisely designed to help limit Americans’ reliance on insecure Chinese-made smart devices.

Anne Neuberger, who was the deputy national security advisor for cybersecurity and emerging technology in the prior administration, disputed a probe launched by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr against the Cyber Trust Mark program, which is designed to certify consumer smart devices with a label that deems them cybersecure. The voluntary program officially launched early this year after months of development in the Biden administration.

Carr’s investigation, first reported last week by Fox News, centers on the lead administrator of the initiative, Underwriter Labs, which was selected in December. Carr directed an internal FCC national security body to “investigate certain worrying issues he has discovered” about UL and the other program administrators because of potential ties to China, Fox reported, citing an internal agency document.