Publication

This paper, prepared for Congress in 2008, discusses the possible threats to the “critical infrastructure” of the US. The term “critical infrastructure” refers to the systems and assets so vital that their incapacity would harm the nation’s physical security, economic security, or public health. Critical infrastructure is often geographically concentrated, so it may be distinctly vulnerable to events like natural disasters, epidemics, and certain kinds of terrorist attacks. Some policy responses to reduce these vulnerabilities are discussed.