The Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity strategy proactively tackles the agency’s mandate to protect critical infrastructure from hacking.

A forthcoming cybersecurity strategy from the Department of Homeland Security will seek to curb “systemic risk” to critical infrastructure by helping to secure digital tools used across sectors, DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said.

Much of the hearing focused on the increasingly close relationship between DHS and the state and local offices that run elections.

The program comes as DHS has moved to rid networks of products that could be used for nation-state led surveillance.

The letter is the latest in a trend of calls from lawmakers for the federal government to be more involved in election cybersecurity. The senators argue that there needs to be more coordination between state and federal agencies to protect elections from cyberattacks.

Nielsen's confirmation comes despite criticism on her relative lack of leadership experience, independence and ethics that hampered her nomination process.