Interagency Security Committee

This executive order creates a permanent Interagency Security Committee (ISC) chaired by the GSA Administrator to set government-wide security policies and standards for federal civilian facilities. It mandates cooperation from all executive agencies and authorizes the committee to develop security standards, share intelligence, assess technology, and maintain a centralized database of federal facilities.

Federal Register Open PDF 60 FR 54411

Key directives

Establish permanent Interagency Security Committee within executive branch
Administrator of General Services to chair Committee
Committee to establish policies for security in and protection of Federal facilities
Develop and evaluate security standards for Federal facilities
Develop strategy for ensuring compliance with security standards
Oversee implementation of appropriate security measures
Encourage timely and cooperative sharing of security-related intelligence
Assess technology and information systems for cost-effective security improvements
Develop long-term construction standards for blast resistant structures
Evaluate standards for location and security of daycare centers in Federal facilities
Assist in developing and maintaining centralized security database of all Federal facilities
Each executive agency and department shall cooperate and comply with Committee policies and recommendations

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Committee establishment upon signing
GSA Administrator assumes chair
Agency representatives appointed

Near term (90d)

Initial working group formation
Beginning of policy development for federal facility security

Long term

Development and implementation of security standards across all federal facilities
Creation of centralized security database
Long-term construction standards for blast-resistant structures

Risks & tensions

Intelligence exemption: Director of Central Intelligence can override compliance if it jeopardizes sources and methods, creating potential gap in unified security posture
Funding contingency: support limited 'to the extent permitted by law and subject to availability of appropriations,' which may constrain implementation
No enforcement mechanism specified beyond monitoring compliance; unclear consequences for non-compliance
Vague scope of 'such other Federal employees as the President shall appoint' leaves committee size and composition uncertain