Lieberman: Obama could issue cybersecurity order in the next month

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) predicts that President Obama could sign an executive order on cybersecurity within the next month.

In an interview on Sunday on "Platts Energy Week," an energy news talk show, Lieberman insisted his bill, the Cybersecurity Act, isn't dead. He said lawmakers could strike a compromise during the lame-duck session, but he said the chances are "less than 50-50."

He said the president should sign an order to enhance protections for vulnerable computer systems, but acknowledged that the president lacks the legal authority to achieve all of the aspects of his bill.

Lieberman's Cybersecurity Act would have empowered the Homeland Security Department to set minimum cybersecurity standards for operators of critical infrastructure, such as gas pipelines, electric grids and banks. The measure would have also encouraged the government and the private sector to share information about cyber threats.

Republicans blocked the bill, arguing that the government standards would have burdened businesses and done little to improve security. 

Lieberman said the executive order would set up voluntary standards for critical systems. He said the president could also instruct regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to make the standards mandatory for the companies they regulate.

"Some of them will be forced to spend some more money than they otherwise are spending now to defend themselves, and us and their customers," Lieberman said. "But in the long run, this is the best thing we can do for our energy markets."

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