Policy & Advocacy
FIR doesn’t just study the threat — we engage the institutions responsible for fixing it. From congressional briefings to FERC comment letters to a proposed Executive Order, FIR provides the technical foundation that policy makers need to act.
The Federal Policy Gap
The United States has no comprehensive federal program for extended grid outage — what FIR calls a Black Sky Event. FEMA plans for 72 hours. A coordinated adversary attack lasts weeks to months. Twenty years of congressional commissions, intelligence assessments, and military commanders have documented this gap. No comprehensive legislation has closed it.
FIR exists in that gap — building the frameworks, training the professionals, and engaging the policy makers who can turn readiness into law.
Our Lines of Engagement
Proposed BSE Executive Order
Led by, Luke Reiner, this proposed Executive Order establishes a national framework for Black Sky Event preparedness. It defines community resilience standards, directs federal agency coordination, and creates funding pathways for municipal hardening programs. The full text is available in our Strategic Documents library.
Congressional Outreach
Through our partnership with Hartwell Capitol Consulting, FIR educates members of Congress and their staffs on grid security, EMP/GMD hardening standards, and critical infrastructure protection. Rob Hartwell brings 25+ years of Capitol Hill experience and a network spanning both chambers and both parties.
FERC & Regulatory Engagement
FIR has submitted formal comment letters to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on geomagnetically induced current (GIC) standards and grid hardening requirements. We engage the regulatory process with source-disciplined technical analysis — not advocacy talking points.
CISA, DOE & State Coordination
FIR coordinates with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Department of Energy, and state emergency management agencies. Our threat intelligence products track active adversary operations — Volt Typhoon, Salt Typhoon, and physical reconnaissance against U.S. installations — and translate them into actionable guidance for infrastructure operators.
What We Bring to the Table
FIR is not a lobbying organization. We are a 501(c)(3) national security nonprofit that provides technical depth to the policy conversation. Our products include:
- Four published threat assessment volumes — continuously updated, source-disciplined
- A Reference Architecture with 532+ checklist items across 16 critical infrastructure sectors
- A training and certification program that produces qualified practitioners
- An operational assessment tool that maps real infrastructure to real hardening standards
- 120+ volunteers from national security, infrastructure, military, and emergency management backgrounds
Engage With Us
For policy inquiries, congressional briefing requests, or regulatory engagement, contact Rob Hartwell, Vice President for Public Affairs.