What could George Washington’s Farwell Address from 1796 and Alexander Hamilton’s, The Federalist No. 68 have in common with governance today? Both documents are over 200 years old, and they both warn Americans that foreign powers striving to influence our governmental authority would be one of our “most deadly adversaries”. A warning all federal, state, local and community leaders should take heed to and enact governmental actions which will prevent our “most deadly adversaries” from both direct and indirect improper influence.
In September 2022 Governor DeSantis signed Executive 22-216 which provided executive and legislative actions to address threats from Florida’s “foreign countries of concern” regarding cyberspace, and foreign funding for universities. The order prohibits obtaining technology products and services from companies owned by “foreign counties of concern” as defined in Fla. Stat. 286.101. The executive order also directs the Department of Management Services (DMS) to establish rules, regulations, and any other necessary actions to protect Florida’s commodities and services utilized by state and local governments. Governor DeSantis also proposed legislation which prohibits government entities from contracting with companies owned by, controlled by, or domiciled in foreign counties of concern if the contract provides access to individual’s personal information such as name, social security number, driver’s license, financial account numbers, medical history, and insurance policy numbers. Department of Management Services Secretary, Pedro Allende stated “With today’s Executive Order, Governor DeSantis takes decisive action to defend the State of Florida and all Floridians from the cyber threats posed by foreign countries of concern and associated groups. The Governor’s direction to develop cybersecurity and procurement rules and standards will make it harder for bad actors to gain a foothold on state infrastructure, will protect Floridians’s’ personal information and intellectual property, and will further secure key information systems and the critical infrastructure that our state and its citizens rely on each day.”
DeSantis did not stop with state government he also proposed legislation to protect higher education from “foreign countries of concern”. He proposed legislation which would amend House Bill 7017 which requires the disclosure of foreign donations to state education institutions in excess of $50,000. The amendment to the statue would prohibit any gift to higher education institute in Florida from any individual or entity residing in the “foreign countries of concern” list. Commission of Education, Manny Diaz, stated “As a Cuban American, I know how Communist countries attempt to infiltrate schools and universities to steal intellectual property and indoctrinate young people with their dangerous and radical ideology. By removing the influence and focusing on the importance of American ideals and citizenship through civics education, Florida is again leading the way for the nation to follow.”
DeSantis’s Executive Order also provided Section 3 for other state and local governments. In Section 3 he strongly encourages all other state and local governments to conform to their current and prospective policies and standards to conform to the requirements in Section 1 of the executive order. The executive order not only protects Florida and its citizens at the state level but also allows local governments to protect local governmental entities and local citizens.