In a recent move by Governor Greg Abbott, an executive order has been issued to shore up the defenses of Texas' crucial systems against perceived threats from the Chinese government. This action aims to protect the state's infrastructure which includes communication, energy, transportation, water, and wastewater systems. Amidst concerns about foreign threats, Abbott's directive has specifically cited past instances of the Chinese threatening national security. "China has made it clear that they can—and will—target and attack America’s critical infrastructure," Abbott told the Office of the Texas Governor.
The governor's mandate calls for the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to evaluate state and local governments and other critical infrastructures for potential weaknesses. An unfortunate typographical oversight was obvious in the Governor’s statement, revealing, "Texas will continue to protect our critical infrastructure to ensure the safety of Texans from potential threats by the Chinese Communist Party or any hostile foreign government," with an unneeded article before 'Chinese Communist Party'. This quote was featured in a post on the official website of the Governor of Texas.
As per Governor Abbott's instructions, several proactive measures are set to be implemented. A task force has been established to discover vulnerabilities and produce recommendations for mitigations. Additionally, simulations of cyberattacks on key Texas industries are on the agenda to refine response strategies and the implementation of preventive policies. Another committee is set to simulate the reboot of Texas' electrical grid following a hypothetical foreign attack.
Governor Abbott is quoted as saying "The Governor also ordered the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas to create a secure, dedicated communications channel for telecommunication and electrical infrastructure companies for use to prioritize load requests during a critical grid incident" which is crucial for the state preparedness. This follows earlier executive orders targeting CCP interference within Texas, and warnings from the FBI in Houston cautioning Texans about the PRC's alleged attempts at targeting and harassing Chinese dissidents in the state, as reported by the Governor of Texas.
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