Modernizing National Security: The Urgent Need to Revamp EO 13549 in 2025

 

Adapting Classified Information Sharing for a New Era of Threats and Technology

In 2010, Executive Order 13549, signed by President Obama and published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2010 (source), established a framework for sharing classified national security information with state, local, tribal, and private sector (SLTPS) entities. Designed to unify policies under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), it aimed to strengthen post-9/11 collaboration against terrorism and other threats. As of April 10, 2025, however, the landscape of national security has shifted dramatically—from quantum computing breakthroughs to state-sponsored cyberattacks—rendering this framework outdated. This article argues that EO 13549 requires a comprehensive overhaul to align with contemporary technological advancements, evolving threats, and new legal mandates, ensuring SLTPS entities can effectively safeguard classified information. Below, I outline key reasons for this necessity, supported by credible sources, with proper citations to acknowledge the foundational work of others.

Why EO 13549 Needs a Comprehensive Overhaul

• Technological Advancements Outstrip 2010 Protocols
  The digital world of 2010 pales in comparison to 2025’s ecosystem, where cloud computing, IoT devices, and quantum computing dominate. Statista reports over 15 billion IoT devices globally in 2025 (Statista, “IoT Connected Devices Worldwide,” 2025). EO 13549’s directive for DHS to enforce “uniform policies” lacks guidance on modern security measures like post-quantum cryptography or zero-trust architectures, detailed in NIST’s Special Publication 800-207 (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2020). Without updates, SLTPS entities risk using obsolete encryption, exposing classified data to breaches, as highlighted by CISA’s 2024 quantum threat assessments (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, “Preparing for Post-Quantum Cryptography,” 2024).
• Sophisticated Cyber Threats Require Dynamic Sharing
  Threats have escalated since 2010, with state actors like Russia and China employing AI-driven cyberattacks—evidenced by CISA’s 2024 alerts on grid vulnerabilities (CISA, “2024 Threat Assessment,” 2024). EO 13549 prioritizes procedural consistency over real-time threat intelligence sharing. The 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, costing $4.4 million in ransom (U.S. Department of Justice, “Colonial Pipeline Recovery,” June 7, 2021), exposed federal-local coordination gaps. An overhaul could mandate instantaneous data exchange, drawing from CISA’s Automated Indicator Sharing model (CISA, “AIS Overview,” 2025), to counter threats more effectively.
• Misalignment with Contemporary Legal Frameworks
  The 2022 Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) mandates 72-hour cyber incident reporting to CISA (Public Law 117-103, March 15, 2022), overlapping with EO 13549’s DHS-centric structure. The 2018 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act further elevated CISA’s role (Public Law 115-278, November 16, 2018), yet EO 13549 remains unchanged since 2010. This misalignment confuses SLTPS entities, as noted in a 2023 GAO report on overlapping federal directives (Government Accountability Office, “Cybersecurity Coordination Gaps,” 2023). An update could harmonize these frameworks, clarifying compliance and leveraging CISA’s authority.
• Globalized Security Demands Broader Coordination
  National security in 2025 is global, with attacks like SolarWinds (FireEye, “SolarWinds Supply Chain Attack,” December 13, 2020) showing international vulnerabilities. EO 13549’s domestic focus omits protocols for collaboration with allies, such as the EU’s NIS2 Directive, effective 2024 (European Union, “Directive 2022/2555,” October 27, 2022). Updating the order to align with global standards would bolster SLTPS defenses against cross-border threats, a gap unaddressed in its original text.
• Workforce and Training Gaps Hinder Implementation
  EO 13549 relies on DHS for uniform training, but a 2023 DHS report cites persistent cybersecurity skill shortages among local governments (DHS, “State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program Report,” 2023). Phishing attacks, up 30% since 2022 per Verizon’s Data Breach Investigations Report (Verizon, “2024 DBIR,” 2024), exploit these gaps. An updated order could mandate tailored training, integrating CISA resources and NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework (NIST, “Cybersecurity Framework 2.0,” 2024), to ensure SLTPS personnel can protect classified data.

The Case for Action in 2025

EO 13549 bridged federal-SLTPS collaboration in 2010, but its rigidity is now a vulnerability. Cybersecurity Ventures forecasts $10.5 trillion in global cybercrime losses for 2025 (Cybersecurity Ventures, “2025 Cybercrime Report,” 2025), and national security demands agility against threats unimaginable in 2010. SLTPS entities need modernized rules to handle classified data amid quantum risks and AI attacks. Recent federal actions, like Trump’s January 2025 EO rescissions, show willingness to adapt (White House, “Executive Actions,” January 20, 2025). An overhauled EO 13549 could unify CISA’s leadership, NIST’s standards, and breach lessons, creating a 2025-ready strategy. Ohio AG Dave Yost’s 2025 crypto scam recoveries (Ohio Attorney General, “Crypto Fraud Recovery,” April 10, 2025) exemplify state-level vigilance—imagine that amplified federally. Inaction isn’t an option; our nation’s security depends on it.

Sources

• CISA. “2024 Threat Assessment.” 2024.
• CISA. “Automated Indicator Sharing Overview.” 2025.
• CISA. “Preparing for Post-Quantum Cryptography.” 2024.
• Cybersecurity Ventures. “2025 Cybercrime Report.” 2025.
• DHS. “State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program Report.” 2023.
• European Union. “Directive 2022/2555 (NIS2).” October 27, 2022.
• FireEye. “SolarWinds Supply Chain Attack.” December 13, 2020.
• Government Accountability Office. “Cybersecurity Coordination Gaps.” 2023.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology. “SP 800-207: Zero Trust Architecture.” 2020.
• NIST. “Cybersecurity Framework 2.0.” 2024.
• Ohio Attorney General. “Crypto Fraud Recovery.” April 10, 2025. ohioattorneygeneral.gov.
• Public Law 115-278. “Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act.” November 16, 2018.
• Public Law 117-103. “Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act.” March 15, 2022.
• Statista. “IoT Connected Devices Worldwide.” 2025.
• U.S. Department of Justice. “Colonial Pipeline Recovery.” June 7, 2021.
• Verizon. “2024 Data Breach Investigations Report.” 2024.
• White House. “Executive Actions.” January 20, 2025.

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