Yesterday in San Antonio, Governor Greg Abbott inked a new chapter in state defense, creating the Texas Cyber Command with a stroke of a pen. The signing ceremony, held at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), officially established what is slated to be America's largest state-based cybersecurity department. This new force will draw on the combined expertise and resources of both state and federal agencies to beef up Texas' cyber defenses, according to a press release from the Office of the Texas Governor.
Highlighting the urgency, Abbott pointed out the frequency and source of these digital threats. "Our state is under constant attack by cyber criminals, attacks that occur thousands of times every single second of every single day," Abbott stated, as mentioned in the same press release. Noting that perpetrators often hail from countries with fraught relations such as China, Russia, and Iran, Abbott underscored that the Texas Cyber Command is tasked with a clear mandate: to prevent and protect against cyber breaches. With an impressive $135 million earmarked for the program, Texas is poised to lead the charge in digital defense.
Home to a significant cybersecurity brain trust, San Antonio was a strategic choice for the headquarters of this initiative. The Texas Cyber Command will closely collaborate with notables like the Sixteenth Air Force and the National Security Agency, forging partnerships aimed at creating a robust bulwark against cyber threats.
Among those who witnessed the bill's signing were a mix of politicos and cyber specialists – Texas Department of Information Resources Executive Director Amanda Crawford, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, and others. Each brings a piece of the puzzle necessary to tackle the vast digital frontier. Further, House Bill 150 puts forth a structured response strategy, linking arms with local and federal partners to formulate rapid and comprehensive reactions in the event of a cyber incident. In his 2025 State of the State Address, Governor Abbott formally identified this issue as a critical concern, designating it as an emergency item for the legislative session.
