The Senate Homeland Security Committee is poised to advance Sean Cairncross as National Cyber Director and Sean Plankey to lead CISA, despite Plankey's pending FBI clearance. Cairncross, with a background in the Republican National Committee and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, would manage an office intended to coordinate cybersecurity policy efforts. Support for his nomination comes from former officials, noting his experience in public and private sectors. However, Plankey's nomination faces potential opposition from Sen. Ron Wyden unless certain security reports are released.
His impressive combination of experience in both the public and private sectors, as well as his ability to navigate government, build coalitions, and implement strategic approaches to the challenges facing the United States make Sean situated particularly well to this role.
Cairncross was tasked with overseeing an office first stood up under Biden that has served as a key public-facing White House cyber policy interlocutor between federal agencies and Capitol Hill.
Despite his lack of direct cybersecurity policy experience, Cairncross's prior roles have equipped him with skills necessary to coordinate responses to cyberattacks.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has expressed intent to block Sean Plankey's nomination unless CISA releases a report on telecom industry security vulnerabilities.
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