On August 18, 2010, President Obama issued Executive Order 13549, "Classified National Security Information Program for State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Entities." On March 9, 2012, Secretary Napolitano released an implementing directive for Executive Order 13549. In her comments on the issuance of the directive, designed to strengthen the sharing of classified information by the federal government with state, local, tribal, and private sector partners, Secretary Napolitano noted that "This directive strengthens this effort by instilling uniformity and consistency in the application of security standards when classified information is shared."

The directive will provide for a governance and oversight structure to be established. It will also "maintain consistency with existing policies and standards promulgated through statutes, executive orders, regulations, and other directives." Representatives from the Department of State, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Information Security Oversight Office, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Department of Justice worked with representatives from various state, local, tribal and private sector partners.