Trump Taps Former RNC Executive for National Cyber Director

Trump's Pick for Cyber Director Is New to the World of Federal Cybersecurity Chris Riotta (@chrisriotta) • February 14, 2025

President Donald Trump has nominated Sean Cairncross, a former Republican National Committee executive with no cybersecurity background, to lead the Office of the National Cyber Director. Cairncross will answer questions about the administration's approach to U.S. cyber defenses amid a governmentwide staffing purge.

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Cairncross previously served as chief operating officer of the Republican National Committee from 2015 to 2016 and CEO of U.S. foreign aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation, which provides infrastructure grants to developing countries. He brings far fewer qualifications to the role than his Senate-confirmed predecessors - Chris Inglis and Harry Coker - two veterans of ...