Trump administration launches new program to secure water systems
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The Trump administration debuted a new pilot program Monday to bring free cybersecurity and AI tools to under-resourced water systems, starting in Texas.
Why it matters: Water systems have long been considered among the country's most vulnerable critical infrastructure, and the program arrives as at least 12 states respond to suspected Iranian cyberattacks.
Zoom in: Project Watershed 250 will connect Texas water utilities with U.S. cybersecurity companies to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their defenses during a six-month pilot.
- Microsoft, Google, AWS, Cloudflare, Palo Alto Networks, Reflection AI, Abnormal AI, Parsons, Fortinet, Forescout, Tenable, Zscaler, and Dragos are each providing services as part of the Texas pilot.
- The Environmental Protection Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are serving as federal partners, while the Texas Cyber Command is overseeing implementation.
What they're saying: "Texas is under perpetual cyberattacks, including cyberattacks on our water systems," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said during a launch event in San Antonio. "The need for cyber resilience is overwhelming."
- Kate DiEmidio, vice president of public policy and government affairs at Dragos, told Axios that the program puts "expertise and resources directly into the hands of the operators who need them most."
- "The question isn't whether these threats will continue to grow, but whether we'll start working together fast enough to stay ahead of them," she said.
The big picture: The White House had been developing the water pilot — along with similar efforts for other critical infrastructure sectors — for months before the recent suspected Iranian attacks, according to media reports.
- "The infrastructure that we're securing isn't hypothetical. It's concrete," National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross said during the program's launch. "The security of our infrastructure matters for every American across the nation."
Between the lines: Many water utilities lack the money and in-house cybersecurity staff that larger critical infrastructure operators rely on, leaving small and rural systems particularly exposed.
What to watch: Cairncross said lessons from the Texas pilot will inform potential expansions to other states and rural communities.
