The Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) is poised to become a stronger force in the second Trump administration and will finally operate as the executive branch cybersecurity policy lead that Congress envisioned when establishing it in 2021, experts say.
President Donald Trump’s selection of Sean Cairncross to lead the office signals that the administration plans for ONCD to run point on cyber policy across the executive branch during Trump 2.0, they said. Cairncross is widely expected to win Senate confirmation.
Cairncross served as a deputy assistant to the president and senior adviser to the White House chief of staff in the first Trump administration, where he “provided counsel on a variety of issues including matters related to national security,” according to an official bio posted online.
He also worked closely with the president’s niece, Lara Trump, when she was leading the Republican National Committee.
While he has no experience as a cybersecurity leader, Cairncross’s close personal ties to the president are considered a significant asset for the office, which until now has been overshadowed by the National Security Council (NSC).
The Biden…
