Cybersecurity Policy Report, Cyber Nominees Receive Key Endorsements in Advance of Senate Hearing, (Jun 3, 2025)
Organizations Mentioned:National Security Council
The nomination of Sean Cairncross to lead the White House Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) was endorsed yesterday by a former ONCD director and 23 other national security experts and former cyber officials.
Former ONCD Director John Inglis was among the signatories on a letter to Sens. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Gary Peters (D., Mich.), the committee’s ranking member.
On Thursday, the committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Mr. Cairncross and Sean Plankey, who has been nominated to be director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CPR, May 29).
In a separate letter to the committee, eight national security groups gave their endorsement to Mr. Plankey.
The letter supporting Mr. Cairncross cited his experience as chief executive officer of Millennium Challenge Corp., an independent federal agency that provides foreign aid, and as a White House national security adviser during the first Trump administration.
“The position of National Cyber Director requires understanding of the many cybersecurity threats and challenges facing our Nation, combined with an effective capability to navigate the federal interagency and build strong relationships with key private sector stakeholders,” according to Mr. Cairncross’ supporters.
“Building on the good work that has come before will require a focus on implementation of strategy, and Sean is exceedingly well prepared to undertake these stated challenges,” they said.
In addition to Mr. Inglis, who was ONCD director during the Biden presidency, the letter was signed by, among others, William Evanina, former director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center; former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen; and John Katko, a former Republican House member from New York who was ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee.
Professional experience was also cited by supporters of Mr. Plankey, who noted that he had been principal deputy assistant secretary for the Energy Department's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response and director–cyber policy for the White House National Security Council.
“CISA is the country’s cyber defense agency and plays a crucial role in protecting the nation from cyber threats. The agency’s mission is more important than ever, given the increasing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks,” they said.
“We are confident that Sean Plankey has the vision and leadership skills to guide CISA in fulfilling its mission and to enhance the security and resilience of our nation's critical infrastructure and federal systems,” they added.
The Plankey letter was signed by the Association of the United States Cyber Forces, Building Cyber Security, the Cyberspace Solarium Commission 2.0, the Cyber Threat Alliance, the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security, the Operational Technology Cyber Coalition, the Strategic Cybersecurity Coalition, and the Technology Advancement Center.
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