Biden's Executive Order Assigns Cybersecurity Responsibility for U.S. Ports to Coast Guard

On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order assigning the responsibility of reforming and enhancing cybersecurity for the country's ports and maritime facilities against hacking attacks, particularly those related to China, to the U.S. Coast Guard. This presidential order mandates the Coast Guard to conduct cybersecurity safety inspections of facilities and vessels and even restrict the movement of ships suspected of posing a cyber threat to U.S. ports. According to Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House, 'Their (operations in U.S. ports) continuity has a clear and direct impact on our country, economy, and national security, and a cyber attack can cause damage equivalent to that of a storm.' There are over 300 ports in the United States, employing about 31 million people. U.S. officials state that these ports contribute over $5 trillion to the national economy and serve as primary entry points for goods from around the world. Biden's executive order also addresses concerns regarding Chinese cranes in U.S. ports. The White House plans to invest $20 billion to reduce reliance on Chinese-made port equipment to enhance national security against threats. Previously, some U.S. officials had warned about over 200 giant ship-to-shore cranes made in China, which are used for loading and unloading cargo at ports and maritime facilities across the United States. A senior U.S. cybersecurity official warned in mid-February that in the event of a conflict between China and the United States, Chinese hackers would certainly disrupt critical U.S. infrastructure, including oil pipelines, railways, maritime, and air transport. Jen Easterly, the director of the U.S. Cybersecurity Agency, also stated in late June at the Aspen Institute in Washington that Beijing is making significant investments to enhance its capabilities for sabotaging U.S. infrastructure. A joint statement from the U.S., U.K., and Canada expressed concerns about 'information manipulation' by foreign countries. Microsoft reported that hackers from the Islamic Republic, China, Russia, and North Korea were caught. The exposure of China's information manipulation in 'local news' aimed at promoting Beijing's preferred content worldwide was also noted. The U.S. Cybersecurity Agency director warned about China's cyber sabotage, and U.S. intelligence agencies indicated that the campaign of Chinese hackers targeting critical infrastructure is more aimed at sabotage than espionage.