President Trump issued an executive order Tuesday directing federal agencies to address the need to protect the nation against electromagnetic pulse threats.
Electromagnetic attacks, which may be natural or man-made, have the capacity to damage critical technology and infrastructure. The directive tasks federal entities with development of risk-informed strategies, collaboration with industry, launching research and development efforts and consulting with the intelligence community on threat warning and recovery.Â
The order also requires agencies to conduct a range of defense, deterrence and nuclear non-proliferation initiatives to increase preparedness in case of an attack.
Trump assigned the Office of Science and Technology Policy to partner with the National Science and Technology Council to conduct annual reviews of agency research efforts on electromagnetic threat preparedness. The assistant to the president for national security affairs will submit an annual report to the president detailing progress on the order.
The federal government may launch information-sharing efforts with industry and provide incentives to private sector entities to encourage innovation that strengthens critical infrastructure against the effects of potential attacks by developing best practices, regulations and appropriate guidance, according to the executive order.