On June 20, 2024, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas outlined strategic guidance to enhance critical infrastructure security and resilience efforts over the next two years. This initiative involves federal agencies, critical infrastructure owners and operators, as well as other government and private sector stakeholders. The guidance builds on President Biden’s National Security Memorandum (NSM-22) on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience.
The identified priority areas include addressing cyber threats from the People’s Republic of China, managing risks associated with artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, identifying supply chain vulnerabilities, incorporating climate risks into resilience efforts, and addressing dependencies on space systems.
Secretary Mayorkas emphasized the importance of a collective effort: “From the banking system to the electric grid, from healthcare to our nation’s water systems and more, we depend on the reliable functioning of our critical infrastructure as a matter of national security, economic security, and public safety. The threats facing our critical infrastructure demand a whole-of-society response.”
The Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Jen Easterly, highlighted CISA's role in driving sector-specific risk assessments: “Through close collaboration with our partners, CISA and the Department are working towards safer and more secure critical infrastructure to ensure the functioning of government, the delivery of essential services, and the protection of the American people.”
The 2024 Homeland Security Threat Assessment indicates that domestic and foreign adversaries will likely continue targeting U.S. critical infrastructure due to its perceived impact on U.S. industries and lifestyle. These threats range from service disruptions to espionage aimed at stealing sensitive information.
Critical infrastructure systems provide essential goods such as clean water, electricity, food, communications, internet connectivity, and manufactured goods. The Department of Homeland Security aims to mitigate these threats through strategic guidance issued today.
