How is the federal government organized in terms of responsibility for safeguarding critical infrastructure assets?
Sample Answer
The federal government is organized in a sector-based approach to safeguarding critical infrastructure assets. This means that each critical infrastructure sector has a lead federal agency responsible for coordinating protection activities and developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with their state and local government and industry counterparts in the critical sectors.
Full Answer Section
The following are the federal lead agencies for each critical infrastructure sector:
- Agriculture and Food: Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Chemical: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Communications: National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
- Critical Manufacturing: Department of Commerce (DOC)
- Dams: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
- Defense Industrial Base: Department of Defense (DOD)
- Emergency Services: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Energy: Department of Energy (DOE)
- Financial Services: Department of the Treasury (Treasury)
- Food and Water: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Healthcare: Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Information Technology: DHS
- Infrastructure: DHS
- Nuclear Reactors: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
- Transportation: Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- Water and Wastewater: EPA
In addition to the lead federal agencies, there are a number of other federal agencies that play a role in safeguarding critical infrastructure assets. These include the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of State (DOS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The federal government’s efforts to safeguard critical infrastructure assets are coordinated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). CISA is a component of DHS and is responsible for leading the federal government’s efforts to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure from all hazards.
CISA works with the lead federal agencies and other stakeholders to develop and implement national strategies and plans to protect critical infrastructure assets. CISA also provides guidance and support to the owners and operators of critical infrastructure assets to help them improve their security posture.
The federal government’s efforts to safeguard critical infrastructure assets are a complex and ever-evolving challenge. However, the federal government is committed to working with its partners to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure from all hazards.
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