What authority is primarily responsible for protecting the resilience of critical infrastructures?

The authority primarily responsible for protecting the resilience of critical infrastructures is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS plays a crucial role in coordinating efforts to secure critical infrastructure sectors, such as energy, transportation, and communications. It achieves this through collaboration with various federal, state, local, and private sector stakeholders to enhance the protections against threats and vulnerabilities.

While the National Security Agency (NSA) focuses on signals intelligence and information assurance, its primary mission does not encompass the comprehensive resilience and protection of critical infrastructure. Similarly, although the Department of Defense (DoD) may engage in protecting specific military-related infrastructures and contribute to broader national security, it does not hold the primary responsibility for civilian critical infrastructure resilience. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is involved primarily in law enforcement and counterterrorism efforts, which includes protecting public safety but is not the lead agency for critical infrastructure resilience.

DHS's responsibility is underscored by initiatives such as the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), emphasizing its role in collaborative risk management and resilience strategies for the nation's critical infrastructures.