Having a set of security standards for the nation might be a good idea, but if it is limited to the US, it is hardly enough. All someone would need to do is find an off-shore computer that doesn't meet those standards, and use that to get at other computers, possibly the same US computers, especially if they happened to be a trusted computer, I.E. a Nike server in Malaysia connecting to one in the United States. The Nike server over-seas wouldn't necessarily have all of the security measures that the computer hear does, but by trusted access, all of that is thrown away.

As more and more computers and nations adhere to the ideas, it becomes better and better, but the problem remains that there are still going to be places that don't adhere to those standards. What do we do to those country's? How would we force our hands? Would it even be ethical to do so?

Furthermore, a potential problem with this is that the government might not only say "Do this" but also give us specific ways, saying that certain software and hardware must be used. The problem with that it is limited and slows down progress in some areas, while also making certain exploits universal. Don't bother checking for OSes and Software, all the computers must have the same hardware and physical firewall, which has driver and hardware problems that allow you to exploit it.

One of the good things about the restrictions set up by the IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is that it has given us guidelines, without ever saying that it MUST be exactly this way, just that if you do this, also do this. The IEEE never interfered with the advent of new hardware or protocols, such as Netware and NetBEUI, atleast not in any serious way. A government commissioned committee, though? They might easily. In fact, if a law were assured to be passed, companies would suddenly support it hoping to have some say, and get their products sold.

If it is pushed, it must be pushed by everyone. If it is limited in its area of effect or supporters, there will inevitably be numerous problems.

Anyway, that's my two cents.