President Obama Said Near Issuing Executive Order on Cybersecurity

President Barack Obama will issue an executive order aimed at bolstering U.S. cybersecurity as soon as next week, according to two former White House officials briefed on the administration’s plans.

The executive order, expected to be released after Obama’s Feb. 12 State of the Union address, sets up a voluntary program of cybersecurity standards for companies operating vital U.S. infrastructure, according to the former officials, who asked to not be named because the order hasn’t been issued yet. The order directs federal agencies to consider incorporating cybersecurity standards into existing regulations, according to the officials. It directs the government to share more information about computer threats with the private sector and issue more security clearances allowing industry representatives to receive classified information, the officials said.