AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott has issued his third executive order of the week targeting adversarial moves by the Chinese Communist Party.
On Wednesday morning, Abbott signed an order requiring state agencies and public education institutions to increase security protecting critical infrastructure, specifically involving the state's Public Utility Commission and the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
The order directs those agencies to identify vulnerabilities in both state and local government, simulate responses to cyberattacks and convene a committee of state agencies to simulate a scenario where the state's power grid would have to be restarted in the event of a cyberattack.
“China has made it clear that they can—and will—target and attack America’s critical infrastructure,” Abbott said Wednesday. “Just this past year, a hostile Chinese government actor targeted America's communications, energy, transportation, water and wastewater systems, threatening our national security. Today, I directed Texas state agencies to identify potential vulnerabilities to prevent cyberattacks on local, state, and other critical infrastructure. 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.”
Experts say Texas could be a prime target for a potential foreign attack due to the large number of industries and research hubs in the state.
This order follows two similar orders issued earlier in the week targeting Chinese influence in the state.
On Monday, Abbott ordered Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers to arrest people involved in harassing and coercing Texans on behalf of foreign groups, while Tuesday's order instructed state agencies and public institutions to increase security against China and the Chinese Communist Party's "malicious espionage operations."