Cybersecurity Executive Order Includes Direction on Space Systems

On January 16, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Strengthening and Promoting Innovation in the Nation’s Cybersecurity. The order includes specific measures to protect space systems.

View Executive Order at whitehouse.gov

View fact sheet at whitehouse.gov

Section 3, “Improving the Cybersecurity of Federal Systems,” calls for agencies to continually verify that Federal space systems have the requisite cybersecurity capabilities through actions including continuous assessments, testing, exercises, and modeling and simulation. Specifically, it directs that:

• USGS, NOAA, and NASA review the civil space contract requirements in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and recommend updates to civil space cybersecurity requirements and relevant contract language.
• The FAR Council review the recommended contract language and take steps to amend the FAR.
• The National Cyber Director inventory space ground systems owned, managed, or operated by civil agencies, identify those considered major information systems, and recommend how to improve their cyber defenses and oversight.
• OMB take steps to help ensure these space ground systems comply with OMB cybersecurity requirements.

Section 8, “National Security Systems and Debilitating Impact Systems,” includes guidance to help protect space national security systems with cybersecurity measures that keep pace with emerging threats. It directs the Committee on National Security Systems to review and update policies and guidance regarding space system cybersecurity, and to identify and address requirements to implement cyber defenses on government-procured space national security systems.

These measures reflect the administration’s commitment to safeguarding space as a critical domain within the broader context of national cybersecurity.