RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) – Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Directive 6 Friday, Oct. 23 to strengthen the state’s cybersecurity infrastructure, as well as to manage the risks posed by rapid development of artificial intelligence, her office announced. In a press release, Spanberger’s Office said:“As part of the directive, Governor Spanberger instructed the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to develop a Commonwealth-wide plan to prevent and respond to cyberattacks and strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure Virginians rely on. The Governor also ordered the establishment of a Cyber Consortium to improve coordination with public safety leaders, emergency management personnel, state agencies, universities and higher education institutions, and private sector partners across the Commonwealth.“This moment demands leadership. It demands coordination. And it demands a thoughtful path forward to address the serious risk posed by the rapid development of AI — particularly as we have seen no leadership from this President and his allies in Congress,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “That’s why today, I am taking executive action focused on strengthening the Commonwealth’s cybersecurity, hardening our infrastructure, and developing a Commonwealth-wide plan to prevent and respond to AI-related cyberattacks.”The Governor’s action comes as AI makes it faster and cheaper to find and exploit weaknesses in our digital infrastructure — as this week’s discovery of critical, decade-old flaws in PHP, the code behind most of the world’s websites, made clear. The new directive also comes amid increased reports of AI models going beyond their explicit instructions to access websites and hack government services, private companies, and financial networks. Earlier this month, Anthropic disclosed that some of its AI agents had taken “unintended” actions on local, federal, and state government websites — including within the Commonwealth of Virginia — without being directed to do so.“Despite federal inaction, the Commonwealth will continue to address the very serious concerns Virginians have about the development of this technology. We’ve already seen how real it is,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “AI is rapidly reshaping the cyber landscape — evidenced by Anthropic AI agents taking improper actions on government websites across the country, including submitting fake Freedom of Information Act requests on a Virginia Department of Education website. While it is our understanding that no sensitive information was accessed, that makes me no less concerned about the future risks that lie ahead.” Governor Spanberger added, “This new executive directive is just the beginning. I’ll continue to leverage my authority as Governor of Virginia to address these risks, strengthen our Commonwealth’s security, and prioritize the safety of Virginians. That is my obligation to every person in this Commonwealth, and I take it seriously.”Executive Directive 6 instructs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and Virginia’s AI Task Force to conduct regular briefings with leading AI technology companies, researchers, and regulators to identify emerging threats, evaluate potential risks, and develop strategies to strengthen cybersecurity and safeguard public safety. Virginia will also engage with public institutions of higher education and other states to assess AI cyber-risk preparedness and the risks of recursive self-improvement AI development. The Governor’s directive aligns with the Commonwealth’s existing Unified Readiness Framework to modernize emergency preparedness and prioritize greater coordination among public safety, private sector, and community partners to keep Virginians safe during crises. The directive also builds on Virginia’s AI Task Force — established by the Governor through Executive Order 22 to confront risks to workforce displacement, data privacy, and cybersecurity.Last month, in a letter to U.S. congressional leadership, Governor Spanberger called for immediate federal action to confront the unprecedented risks posed by the rapid development of AI. The Governor warned of significant negative impacts without new federal “guardrails that achieve meaningful AI accountability.”Click here to read the full text of Governor Spanberger’s Executive Directive 6.”Copyright 2026 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
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