Office of the National Cyber Director

Office of the National Cyber Director

Agency overview
Formed	January 1, 2021;4 years ago (2021-01-01)
Headquarters	Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Annual budget	$21 million [1]
Agency executive	Sean Cairncross, National Cyber Director
Parent agency	Executive Office of the President
Website	www.whitehouse.gov/oncd/

The Office of the National Cyber Director is an agency in the United States Government statutorily responsible for advising the President of the United States on matters related to cybersecurity. It was established in 2021.

History

The position of National Cyber Director was established under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 on the recommendation of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a congressionally-authorized panel convened in 2019 and chaired by United States Senator Angus King and Representative Mike Gallagher. ^{[2] [3]} Situated within the Executive Office of the President of the United States, it is statutorily charged with "programs and policies intended to improve the cybersecurity posture of the United States, ... diplomatic and other efforts to develop norms and international consensus around responsible state behavior in cyberspace" and other matters related to cybersecurity. ^[4]

Authorizing legislation for the office permitted the hiring of up to 75 staff, however, failed to appropriate any funds to do so. ^[5] By August 2021, the White House was able to identify $250,000 in contingency funding to hire a few personnel to support inaugural director Chris Inglis. ^[6] Later in 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided $21 million in funding for the ONCD. ^[7] On March 2, 2023, the office published a national cybersecurity strategy and on July, 31, 2025, the office published a national cyber workforce and education strategy. ^[8]

Less than a month into President Donald Trump's second term in office, he nominated Sean Cairncross to serve as National Cyber Director. ^[9] It was not until August 2, 2025, that the U.S. Senate confirmed Cairncross for the role. ^[10]

List of National Cyber Directors

No.	Portrait	Officeholder	Term start	Term end	Days	President
1		John C. Inglis	July 12, 2021	February 15, 2023	583		Joe Biden
–		Kemba Walden (Acting)	February 15, 2023	November 17, 2023	275
–		Drenan Dudley (Acting)	November 17, 2023	December 15, 2023	28
2		Harry Coker	December 15, 2023	January 20, 2025	402
3		Sean Cairncross	August 2, 2025	Incumbent	30		Donald Trump

See also

• U.S. Cyber Command
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education

References

1. "Federal efforts on critical infrastructure cybersecurity come under White House review". Federal News Network. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
2. Miller, Maggie (July 12, 2021). "Chris Inglis formally sworn in as national cyber director". The Hill . Retrieved August 25, 2021.
3. Sanger, David (March 11, 2020). "Congress, Warning of Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities, Recommends Overhaul". New York Times . Retrieved August 25, 2021.
4. "§1500. National Cyber Director". house.gov. U.S. House of Representatives . Retrieved August 25, 2021.
5. Sabin, Sam (June 21, 2021). "The national cyber director's first hurdles". Politico . Retrieved August 25, 2021.
6. Ogrysko, Nicole (August 19, 2021). "New cyber executive order a 'necessary shock to the system,' NIST says". WFED . Retrieved August 25, 2021.
7. "PORTMAN, SINEMA, KING, HASSAN, ROMNEY APPLAUD SENATE PASSAGE OF MORE THAN $20 MILLION FOR THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL CYBER DIRECTOR IN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT & JOBS ACT". Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs. August 10, 2021.
8. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NCWES-2023.07.31.pdf
9. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/nominations-sent-to-the-senate/
10. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/08/u-s-senate-confirms-sean-cairncross-as-the-national-cyber-director/