Resiliency Is a State and Local Job

Editor's Note: This article appears in Governing's Q2 2026 Magazine. You can subscribe here.


In an era when a single line of malicious code can knock essential services offline, cybersecurity has more attention than ever before. Indeed, it is a defining challenge for modern leaders. From water systems, public roads and power grids to health databases and emergency communications, secure critical infrastructure depends on decisions made by public leaders, often under pressure and with limited resources.

This issue of Governing takes a closer look at how states and localities are confronting threats to these foundational systems. What emerges is a picture that is both sobering and instructive. Cyber threats are evolving faster than many institutions can adapt, yet across the country there are examples of governments building smarter defenses by fundamentally rethinking how they operate. Increasingly, this includes the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools that can help agencies detect anomalies, anticipate threats and respond more quickly. But bad actors can use those tools to multiply their capacity too, raising the stakes even further.

As you read this issue, we invite you to consider both the vulnerabilities that exist and the capacity that can be built. The path forward will be defined by the collective effort to strengthen the foundations of public service, rather than any single solution.

That approach is shaping how we are reorganizing our coverage.

Going forward, Governing will renew our commitment to covering the people, places, policies and programs that make government work. The most effective strategies require thoughtful leadership, an empowered government workforce and collaboration across jurisdictions. Forward-looking policies lead to programs that can adapt to new realities over time. We will examine what works and why, with an eye toward practical lessons that can be applied elsewhere.

Toward that end, we recently launched a Government Efficiency Council made up of public-sector leaders confronting a challenging and ever-changing fiscal environment. They are using this moment as an opportunity to pursue a broader transformation agenda that improves services and builds trust.

We are also convening a City Manager Innovation Council, a peer forum designed to foster candid collaboration and practical exchange among city leaders driving fresh approaches to difficult problems. If either of those are something you would like to be involved in, drop me a note at crobinett@governing.com. Let's make government better together.