Senator urges executive order on cybersecurity
In lieu of legislation, the president could boost cybersecurity himself, and at least one lawmaker thinks he should.
A senator is appealing to President Barack Obama to take measures to better protect the U.S. critical infrastructure, after multiple occasions of congressional squabbling prevented the passage of sweeping cybersecurity legislation.
In a letter to Obama, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, expressed doubt that Congress would pass cybersecurity legislation this year, The Hill reports. Several cybersecurity bills recently met their doomed fate as a result of partisan bickering.
With only the slight chance of a compromise in reach for comprehensive cybersecurity legislation, Feinstein urged the president to issue an executive order that would create cybersecurity standards and incentives for critical infrastructure operators to better safeguard their systems and networks, according to The Hill.
"While an executive order cannot convey protection from liability that private sector companies may face, your administration can issue cybersecurity standards and provide technical assistance to companies willing to take voluntary steps to improve their security,” Feinstein wrote.