White House Signs Executive Order on Increased Cybersecurity Defense for AI

Key Takeaways

On June 2, the White House issued an executive order (EO) to improve cybersecurity defenses across critical infrastructure sectors against vulnerabilities as new and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) models are increasing in sophistication and scale. The EO calls for increased voluntary collaboration between government agencies and technology companies to test frontier AI models, identify vulnerabilities and distribute resources to critical infrastructure sectors – including counties – to bolster cybersecurity defenses.

What’s in the EO?

The EO directs multiple federal agencies to take action within the next 30 to 60 days to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and improve the secure deployment of advanced AI technologies. 

Major provisions include:

• Expands Cybersecurity Defense Initiatives: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), is directed to expand cybersecurity programs that leverage AI-enabled defensive tools, including a call for facilitating direct access to cybersecurity tools and services for counties and other critical infrastructure operators. 
• Establishes an AI Cybersecurity Clearinghouse: The EO establishes an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse in voluntary partnership with AI developers and critical infrastructure operators. The clearinghouse will coordinate efforts to identify software vulnerabilities, validate security findings and prioritize remediation activities.
• Seeks Funding Mechanisms to Advance AI Security: Federal agencies are instructed to examine whether existing Federal grant programs can support organizations developing advanced AI vulnerability detection technologies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is also directed to expand federal cybersecurity hiring pathways to strengthen the nation's cyber workforce.
• Framework for Advanced AI Models: The EO establishes a voluntary framework for collaboration between the federal government and AI developers regarding highly capable "covered frontier models." Under the framework, developers may voluntarily engage with the federal government before releasing advanced AI systems to trusted partners, allowing security assessments and coordination to occur prior to deployment. 
• Enforcement Against Criminal Use of AI: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is ordered to prioritize enforcement actions against individuals who use AI to illegally access computer systems, damage networks or facilitate cybercrime. Federal prosecutors are instructed to utilize existing criminal statutes to address AI-enabled cyber offenses.

What This Means for Counties

Counties increasingly rely on digital systems to deliver public services, administer elections, manage public safety operations, support healthcare facilities and operate county-owned infrastructure. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, county governments continue to seek additional tools, expertise and resources to strengthen local cybersecurity defenses.

While the order does not impose new requirements on counties, it could create new opportunities for county governments to access federal cybersecurity services and advanced AI-enabled security tools. The order directs CISA to facilitate access to cybersecurity tools and services for state and local governments and operators of critical infrastructure.

NACo will continue monitoring federal implementation of the EO and evaluating potential impacts on county governments.