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Read Obama’s Latest Executive Order and Directive Regarding ‘Infrastructure Security’

Feb. 13, 2013 1:30am
Obama Announces Signing of Cybersecurity Executive Order and Policy Directive

U.S. President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), delivers his State of the Union speech before a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol February 12. (Photo: Getty Images)

It was expected that President Barack Obama was going to sign an executive order for improvement of the nation’s cybersecurity — although some have already criticized it — on Tuesday he has also issued a Presidential Policy Directive for infrastructure security as well.

The new directive updates the Homeland Security Presidential Directive, which was issued in 2003. It came with the president’s State of the Union address Tuesday, which touched on the cyberattacks and defense and announced his signing of the executive order.

“We know hackers steal people’s identities and infiltrate private e-mail. We know foreign countries and companies swipe our corporate secrets. Now our enemies are also seeking the ability to sabotage our power grid, our financial institutions, and our air traffic control systems,” Obama said during his evening address.

“Proactive and coordinated efforts are necessary for us to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure – including the assets, networks, and systems that are vital to public confidence and the Nation’s safety, prosperity, and well-being,” the press release issued by the White House’s Office of the Press Secretary read.

Given that the owners and operators of critical infrastructure are in the best position to manage risks and decide upon the best strategies to make them secure, this new directive seeks to strengthen the alliance between that sector and local, state, federal and tribal governments by:

  • Refining and clarifying functional relationships across the Federal Government to advance the national unity of effort to strengthen critical infrastructure security and resilience;
  • Enabling effective information exchange by identifying baseline data and systems requirements for the Federal Government; and
  • Implementing an integration and analysis function to inform planning and operations decisions regarding critical infrastructure.

Going forward from here, the press release stated, an assessment will be conducted of the existing public-private partnership involving critical infrastructure and recommendations will be made for how it can be improved for national security. A plan will also be established to ensure efficient information flow from the federal government to industry stakeholders, as well as development of “a situational awareness capability.”

As for the executive order, Obama said in his State of the Union address itΒ is meant to “strengthen our cyber defenses by increasing information sharing, and developing standards to protect our national security, our jobs, and our privacy.” He urged Congress to pass legislation as well Β that would “give our government a greater capacity to secure our networks and deter attacks.”

Under the president’s new order, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has a year to finalize a package of voluntary standards and procedures that will help companies address their cybersecurity risks. The package must include flexible, performance-based and cost-effective steps that critical infrastructure companies can take to identify the risks to their networks and systems and ways they can manage those risks.

Officials will also come up with incentives the government can use to encourage companies to meet the standards, and the Pentagon will have four months to recommend whether cybersecurity standards should be considered when the department makes contracting decisions.

The administration was limited by law in what it could include in an executive order. But the order also calls for agencies to review their existing regulations to determine if the rules adequately address cybersecurity risks.

Here’s more about the executive order from Wired:

The order still allows the private sector to share information with the government, but references established safeguards β€” such as the Fair Information Practice Principles β€” for protecting the privacy of customers whose information is shared and also carries some built-in limitations for the kind of information that companies will likely share. The order requires DHS’s chief privacy officer and its officer for civil rights and civil liberties to assess the privacy and civil liberties risks of the programs.

Civil liberties advocates praised the executive order in this regard, but said they will withhold judgment until they see how the information-sharing gets played out in practice.

β€œA lot of what this shows is that the president can do a lot without cybersecurity legislation,” said Mark Jaycox, policy analyst and legislative assistant for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who points out that the executive order satisfies the need for information sharing without the privacy problems that existed under legislative proposals where loopholes would have allowed companies to dump large amounts of data on the government in an effort to obtain legal immunities. Without those immunities, companies will by nature be more circumspect about what they provide the government, thus limiting what they hand over Jaycox said.

Not everyone is pleased with the executive order, as weΒ pointed out in an earlier post. Some lawmakers believe that just because Congress was not able to pass legislation regarding cybersecurity yet does not merit the president taking action himself.

“I think in general it means (the U.S.) will advance the case of cybersecurity, and that’s important,” said Paul Smocer, the head of the technology policy division at The Financial Services Roundtable, a powerful lobbying group that represents the nation’s biggest banks. “How much teeth versus how much gum there is, we’ll see.”

Take a look at the full executive order from Wired here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Comments (50)

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  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 12:06pm

    Cyber security is something we can’t ignore. Our power, water and financial systems are too vital to our national interest not to be protected. We know the Chinese are engaged in cyber warfare with the US right now.

    The primary function of the federal government is to protect the citizens of the US.

    It strikes me that the US Cyber Command is the appropriate military organization to develop the weapons to defend us and attack the enemy.

    An Executive Order seems to be the wrong route.

    Report this comment

    Dismayed Veteran  
  • Saff SGT
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 11:16am

    In order to overthrow USA you have to have control of the military, Obama has that, next you need control of all media and press he has 3.4 of it now, Blaze, Fox are still not ruined completely yet. He has 60 million Liberal Muslim Communist who think he is God. Folks better start fighting back with a vengeance this is very startling for all of us in the short run

    Report this comment

    Saff SGT  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 10:56am

    I think everyone believes that cyber threats are real, including Congress. Why does Obama think he has to issue Executive Orders on this subject? Man, what a power-crazed control freak! Anybody else feel like we are living in N. Korea with an insane dictator?

    Report this comment

    Tigress1  
    • VanceUppercut
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 11:16am

      Because even something as simple and common sense as “Hey, let’s protect ourselves from hackers who want to steal our secrets (and do much worse stuff than that)” is too much responsibility for Repubs in Congress to handle. Take this excerpt form a story published in November:
      “Comprehensive cybersecurity regulatory reform failed yet again in the Senate on Thursday, but the White House is not waiting for Congress to act and will likely use an executive order to carry out some elements of the bill. On Wednesday, Senate Republicans — joined by a small group of Democrats — again blocked the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 from coming to the Senate floor.”

      Report this comment

      VanceUppercut  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 10:09am

    Here it is again: “tribal governments”. What the heck is a “tribal government”? Are they supposed to be in the U.S.?

    Report this comment

    Tigress1  
  • justsayin456
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 10:02am

    You want to know what the real reason is our infrastructure is weak? Read the book The Fine Print. The telecom and gas and railroad duopolies in this country are the problem. You don’t hear about this on the news because THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW. Look, now I’m just another conspiracy theorist. Oh well.

    Report this comment

    justsayin456  
  • noslave
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 8:56am

    anytime you get govt involved with security under this communist pres ?(putin i’ll be more flexible??)reduceing armament/security etc. you might as well leave the countrys back door UNLOCKED??

    Report this comment

    noslave  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 8:43am

    And if you watched the bing fox news trend lines…none went positive…most were negative trends dipping into -77…

    All I could do was to hold my stomach down…it was like a puke fest at my house…

    Report this comment

    SamIamTwo  
  • zoro51
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 8:21am

    the presidentcy IS NOT A DICTATORSHIP IMPEACH N THROW OUT OF THE USA NOW END AMERICAS RAPE

    Report this comment

    zoro51  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 8:48am

      The EO process can be stopped…problem is that no one in Congress is willing to take it on without getting the collective to agree. The process is broken and the newbies don’t know much about the process as they are being indoctrinated by the RINOs.

      Report this comment

      SamIamTwo  
  • term limits for congress
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 8:18am

    I’m going to hold my opinion until I have a chance to review it with Maxine Waters and Sheila Jackson-Lee. I am very interested to get their insight on the subject.

    Report this comment

    term limits for congress  
  • taintso
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 8:04am

    Does this mean we can expect to see federal police on the freeways giving out speeding tickets?

    Report this comment

    taintso  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 8:46am

      No, you won’t see many of the federal law enforcers at all…cuts are forthcoming…especially for DoD.

      Now if you had mentioned the IRS, hell yes they are going to be on you like stink on pooo…dig a bunker.

      Report this comment

      SamIamTwo  
  • ares338
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 7:48am

    I believe absolutely nothing that comes out of the mouth of the Traitor in the Oval Orfice! He has put out so many executive orders it’s impossible to know where Washington’s powers start and end and that’s what they want.

    Report this comment

    ares338  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 7:35am

    all in the name of keeping us safe…

    Report this comment

    soybomb315_II  
  • loveoursoldiers
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 7:23am

    state, federal, and TRIBAL governments? wtf does that mean?

    Report this comment

    loveoursoldiers  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 10:01am

      Tribal governments are the sovereign American Indian ‘independent’ governments within the borders of the USA and sometimes Canada.

      Report this comment

      Stoic one  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 10:45am

      I had the same question. I’m sure they have been around for a long time, but it does raise suspicions that the term is suddenly working it’s way into the media. Maybe people who live in Indian territory are much more used to it, but there is probably a reason why the rest of us are being “desensitized” or more accepting of the term.

      Report this comment

      Tigress1  
  • burke
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 6:36am

    He can take all his executive orders & shove them up his black frekin ass.

    Report this comment

    burke  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 6:29am

    More power and control seized by Executive order and handed off to Homeland Insecurity, this is getting worse and worse by the day as our freedoms are undermined once again. When will we finally be rid of the madness of Obama?

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • shorelineliz
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 6:17am

    Freedom will always find a way. Let Obummer Executive Order away. There are Sooooo many people sooooo much smarter than he is. Let him do his darndest cause they will too. Remember these really smart guys started out as young punk kids fooling around with tools and wires and metal and stuff in their mamas basements and came up with really cool stuff we all use. They will find a way around this crap. Don’t count them out or down!

    Report this comment

    shorelineliz  
  • media-bias-steals-elections
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 6:00am

    Obviously hackers are hackers because they did not get “Kommy Care” when they were 4 years old, so for the rest of their lives, they will be punished by society for their parents being bad communists, allowing their children to have independent thoughts and ideas, and if that is allowed to happen, politicians will leave no stone unturned, making sure their lives are a living hell, for having the audacity of having an independent thought or idea outside of the Democrat Party?

    Uh, no.

    Report this comment

    media-bias-steals-elections  
  • piper60
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 4:53am

    So—now that he has more flexibility, when will he appoint himself as head Czar?

    Report this comment

    piper60  
  • asybot12
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 2:54am

    Wow this is new, he didn’t do this late Friday night on a long weekend (sarcasm).

    Report this comment

    asybot12  
  • pookieamos
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 2:48am

    Gosh I’m just dang sick and tired of this whack job , American hater usurper ! Pray , pray , Orly Taitz’s case before the Supreme Court goes well on Feb.15 ! Can you just imagine the deep relief of having this man out of control of your life ??? Just the thought of it makes me all fuzzy and warm ! Of course , the next president would continue down the same path ! There are only a couple of solutions to our problems people , either we get a Libertarian in there or we face a Revolution , NOTHING ELSE can save this country , something to mull on.

    Report this comment

    pookieamos  
    • omgitsgela
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 3:07am

      Congress has more to do with things than the president really…

      Report this comment

      omgitsgela  
    • Joshua81
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 7:49am

      Expect for when he uses his EXECUTIVE ORDER.. Congress sucks, but you can’t put all the blame on them and the Senate when he keeps going over their head and doing whatever he wants. This is a government without representation of the people. Which, I believe is tyranny…

      Report this comment

      Joshua81  
  • omgitsgela
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 2:36am

    This is good news. It’s too easy to take advantage of things these days. Everyone banks on the public’s fear of the law catching someone, but some people don’t care, and well, it’s way too easy to slap some C4 on the base of some transmission line, or diagnose where the transmission antennas for a metropolitan transportation agency’s communications hub is, or EMP pulse a busy city, etc.

    Report this comment

    omgitsgela  
    • DougHuffman
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 7:30am

      That’s pretty funny, “easy” and “EMP” in the same sentence. If it was easy then anyone could do it. Who fails to do arithmetic is doomed, not least to nonsense.

      Report this comment

      DougHuffman  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 2:14am

    Big Federal Bureaucracy taking over all Private Industries, by saying that they are “partnering” with them. The Partner thing is B S. In reality, the Feds will dictate to the “Partners” a whole list of rules and regulations that they MUST follow.

    Things like – how much electricity, natural gas and heating oil each customer will be allowed. Things like adding surcharges on their phone bills, so that the takers can get a phone for free – wait, they’re already THAT!

    Report this comment

    Diane TX  
  • Tretka
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 2:08am

    Man do I hate how cynical I have become.

    No…leave the infrastructure alone. This is one more little step for control. Hidden in magical language he is telling us he is taking over communications and infrastructure for good.

    Obama mentioned “inventing crisis” in his version of the SOTU as if it did not apply to him and “the other side” was inventing things. Really? really? So…what’s this new poison pen regulation about?

    Report this comment

    Tretka  
    • omgitsgela
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 2:39am

      Uhhh, have you seen how easy it is to access the base of a transmission line tower? Have you ever gotten curious about where undersea transatlantic cable junctions are? I mean, the country could do nothing about it, but I think they wouldn’t like bad things to happen like that… I’ve heard an axe goes through a subterranean fiber optic cable fairly easily.

      Report this comment

      omgitsgela  
  • virgie morgan
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 1:46am

    All I can say about the whole obama speech is….Agenda 21 the whole way….he thinks he is clever by wording things to sound harmless but anyone with half a brain knows exactly what he is talking about…collecting data on all of us, putting in smart meters regardless of our rights, taking our guns, and disarming our military and giving more money to countries who hate us, and redistributing America’s wealth to third world countries. Totally control over everything we do…communism is here.

    Report this comment

    virgie morgan  
    • csternod
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 4:52am

      Finally someone says exactly what we’re all thinking! The President has done nothing good for us internationally, and is just going to seize more and more power here at home until he controls every aspect of our lives.

      Report this comment

      csternod  
    • Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 5:48am

      Assuming that you admit that the danger of cyberattack is a serious problem, what COULD the President have suggested doing about it that wouldn’t have filled your mind with wild paranoid fantasies? Is it even possible for the President to ever say anything about any subject without you imagining the existence of some more sinister subtext?

      Report this comment

      Xylliab_of_the_Znarghh  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on February 13, 2013 at 8:40am

      You got it and others are catching on…way too slow though.

      Report this comment

      SamIamTwo  
  • Mr.buff1959
    Posted on February 13, 2013 at 1:43am

    Thanks for the info and your time Liz.

    Report this comment

    Mr.buff1959  
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