Source: Reuters

The U.S. government’s director for cybersecurity resigned on Friday, criticizing the excessive role of the National Security Agency in countering threats to the country’s computer systems.

“He has tendered his resignation,” Amy Kudwa, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman told Reuters.

Former Silicon Valley entrepreneur Rod Beckstrom said in a resignation letter published by the Wall Street Journal it was a “bad strategy” to have the National Security Agency, which is part of the Department of Defense, play a major role in cybersecurity.

Beckstrom headed the National Cybersecurity Center, which was created last March to coordinate all government cybersecurity efforts and answers to the Department of Homeland Security.