NIAC/NRF

The NIAC provides recommendations and advises the president on protecting the nation's critical infrastructure, which is vital to the nation's economy, governance, safety, and public health. The NIAC provides its recommendations and advice through the secretary of homeland security. The NIAC is composed of a maximum of 35 members, all appointed by the president. The council members are appointed from the private sector, state and local governments, and academia.

PDDs are executive orders issued by the president of the United States to broadcast the policies and decisions on national security matters. PDDs are executive orders; therefore, they are treated as laws. However, PDDs are effective after consultations with the National Security Council (NSC). PDDs include national security presidential directives (NSPDs) and homeland security presidential directives (HSPDs).

It is the responsibility of federal departments and agencies to identify and prioritize the protection of critical infrastructure. However, the federal departments need to work in coordination with state and local governments and the private sector to achieve this goal. In addition, the federal departments need to appropriately protect all information related to protecting critical infrastructure and vital information that can facilitate terrorist targeting of critical infrastructure. When implementing the policies of presidential directives for homeland security, the federal departments and agencies must abide by the laws protecting the rights of U.S. citizens.

The NRF, formed on March 22, 2008, replaced the National Response Plan. The NRF provides principles guiding all stakeholders to form a unified national response to disasters and emergencies. The NRF also establishes a complete national approach to domestic incident response.
The NRF states the principles, roles, and structures that organize how we respond as a nation