President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has communicated to Congress the issuance of a new Executive Order aimed at enhancing the nation's cybersecurity framework. This order builds upon previous measures, addressing the ongoing national emergency declared in prior executive orders dating back to 2015.
The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) has been invoked to strengthen efforts against significant malicious cyber-enabled activities that threaten the United States' national security, foreign policy, and economy. The new order updates criteria for imposing sanctions on individuals engaged in these harmful cyber activities.
"Significant malicious cyber-enabled activities continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States," President Biden stated in his message to Congress.
He emphasized that this initiative is designed to counter growing threats from foreign actors targeting critical infrastructure through unauthorized access, ransomware attacks, and other cyber intrusions.
The Executive Order also revises guidelines for the Secretary of the Treasury in designating individuals for sanctions related to these specified malicious activities.
"I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued," President Biden concluded in his message dated January 16, 2025.
