No one can envy the U.S. Department of Homeland Security its multifarious responsibilities stretching from port security to cyberspace. But surely the agency is obliged to respond fully to congressional inquiries about its murky plan to monitor government and private communications in the name of protecting the information infrastructure from terrorists. Details have been vague, but the plan reportedly involves some 2,000 workers and the expertise of the National Security Agency and other espionage specialists to guard the Internet.

It's no wonder members of Congress are curious, considering the administration's subversive track record of domestic spying. Members on the Homeland Security panels, who complain they are too much in the dark, have asked the agency to hold off on plans to unveil the program as early as next month. Constitutional and privacy questions need to be adequately answered first.

America remains unprepared for a major Internet crash, according to the latest accountability report from congressional monitors. A proper defense obviously requires close cooperation from experts in government and private industry. A bit of progress was noted in the hiring of an assistant secretary to coordinate cyber security. But congressional monitors find the effort lagging, with a major reason the private sector's mistrust of the leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.

The agency has a huge task, securing the communications infrastructure while protecting the government's ability to communicate in an emergency. It cannot afford to undermine that effort by withholding information from Congress.

The citizens are knowledgeable users of the Internet and sense both its vital role and fragility. They want it protected. They just need informed reassurances by way of their elected representatives, not vaporous edicts from the administration.