President Biden took decisive action today by signing a National Security Memorandum (NSM) aimed at fortifying and bolstering the resilience of critical infrastructure across the United States. This memorandum, which supersedes a previous decade-old presidential policy document on critical infrastructure protection, marks the beginning of a comprehensive initiative to safeguard American infrastructure against a spectrum of threats and hazards, both present and future.
The move comes at a pivotal moment for the nation, with President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda driving forward ambitious plans to modernize and fortify key infrastructure. Harnessing the potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the administration sees an unprecedented opportunity to lay the groundwork for a resilient future.
Recognizing the importance of prudent risk management in infrastructure investments, the administration has unveiled substantial funding commitments under the Investing in America Agenda. With $448 billion allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, encompassing over 51,000 infrastructure projects, and an additional $825 billion in private sector investment catalyzed across industries such as clean power, biomanufacturing, and clean energy manufacturing, the administration is poised to usher in transformative change.
A significant portion of the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, totaling $50 billion, has been earmarked specifically for enhancing infrastructure resilience. This includes $8.7 billion allocated through the PROTECT program to bolster the resilience of transportation infrastructure and $4.5 billion through FEMA to fortify various infrastructure elements against a range of hazards. Already, this resilience funding has catalyzed over 4,000 infrastructure resilience projects nationwide.
The NSM, in conjunction with these robust funding initiatives, aims to ensure that critical infrastructure in the United States not only sustains a strong and innovative economy but also serves to safeguard American families and communities. By proactively enhancing resilience to potential disasters, the nation is laying a foundation for long-term strength and stability, ensuring a legacy of resilience for generations to come.