U.S. President Joe Biden issued a Proclamation on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience on Thursday. November has traditionally been designated as ‘Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month’ to protect essential systems. From the energy powering homes to the networks connecting people and the systems ensuring health and safety, critical infrastructure sustains the economy and secures communities. This month, a commitment is reaffirmed to strengthening the nation’s infrastructure and ensuring a safe and secure America for future generations.
“This year, I signed a National Security Memorandum to secure and enhance the resilience of United States critical infrastructure — updating the policy for the first time in a decade,” Biden wrote in his Proclamation. “This represents the launch of a new era in protecting our infrastructure against all threats and hazards by safeguarding our strong and innovative economy and enhancing our collective resilience to disasters before they happen. But there is more to do.”
He noted that climate change is making natural disasters more frequent, ferocious, and costly — endangering supply chains, creating more instability for communities, and straining the critical infrastructure Americans depend on for their livelihoods. “And we need to stay vigilant against adversaries that seek to maliciously target our critical infrastructure, including through cyberattacks.”
Biden pointed out that to meet this moment, “my Administration made a once-in-a-generation investment in our Nation’s infrastructure — creating an opportunity to build in resilience to all hazards upfront and by design. Through my American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act, we are investing billions of dollars to secure and bolster our infrastructure. That includes improving our electric grid so that people can maintain power in any situation, elevating roads and bridges over possible flood zones, funding community resilience programs, and more. These investments have not only helped to protect Americans — they have benefited our economy, creating jobs and new possibilities for our communities.”
“At the NATO summit this year, I announced an arrangement with Canada and Finland to collaborate on the production of polar icebreakers,” the president highlighted. “The partnership will advance United States economic and national security interests by strengthening our shipbuilding and industrial capacity while simultaneously opening up new trade routes, and pushing back against foreign aggression and bolstering our international alliances.”
This year, Biden also announced a U.S. Port Security Initiative to reverse the nation’s dependence on foreign-manufactured port equipment. “Ensuring our Nation is resilient in the face of threats also means working with other nations around the globe to build better, stronger, and more sustainable infrastructure.”
At the G7 Summit in June, Biden said he was proud to announce the historic progress made with the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. “This initiative will strengthen United States national and economic security for Americans at home and enable sustainable economic growth for partner countries. To date, we have mobilized $60 billion to create high-quality global infrastructure. That comes on top of our work with the European Union and African heads of state to develop the Lobito Corridor as well as our work with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to expand regional and global trade markets through the Port of Lobito in Angola,” he added.
The president said “We continue to pursue opportunities to expand our investments across Africa and around the world, including the Indo-Pacific, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere. Investments like these create more shared opportunities, prosperity, and security for everyone.”
During Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, Biden added in his proclamation “We recommit to safeguarding and strengthening our Nation’s critical infrastructure to save lives and allow our Nation to continue doing what it does best: creating new possibilities.”
Proclaiming November 2024 as Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, Biden called upon “the people of the United States to recognize the importance of protecting our Nation’s infrastructure and to observe this month with appropriate measures to enhance our national security and resilience.”
Last week, the White House released its first National Security Memorandum on artificial intelligence (AI), detailing a unified strategy to leverage AI’s potential for enhancing national security. The memo mandates the federal government to take decisive actions to position the U.S. as a global leader in developing safe, secure, and reliable AI; leverage advanced AI technologies to enhance national security; and foster international agreement and governance on AI. The White House memo will strengthen the AI Safety Institute’s role and guide agencies on AI use for national security.
The fifth annual Microsoft Digital Defense Report revealed last month that customers face over 600 million cyber and nation-state attacks daily, including ransomware, phishing, and identity theft. It highlights the merging roles of nation-state actors and cybercriminals, with critical infrastructure being a prime target in hybrid warfare. The report calls for a stronger deterrent framework to enhance stability, protect infrastructure, and prevent severe cyberattacks. It urges governments to strengthen partnerships with stakeholders to identify vital infrastructure.