Stakeholders identify challenges facing Cairncross as top White House cyber official under Trump

Haiman Wong of the R Street Institute also weighed in on Cairncross, calling his confirmation a “pivotal moment.”

Wong said, “As demonstrated in the AI Action Plan, the United States is leaning into its technological innovation. Cybersecurity must complement – not conflict with – those efforts.”

“One enduring question is whether – and to what extent – anyone should be held liable for software vulnerabilities that percolate in the digital environment. The software liability framework proposed under the Biden administration was well-intentioned, but risked introducing a rigid, one-size-fits-all model that may not sufficiently align or adapt with the scale and speed of today’s software ecosystem,” Wong said.

Wong said, “ONCD now has an opportunity to reevaluate which elements of that proposal might have been constructive, and to craft a more flexible, balanced approach – one that strengthens cyber resilience without stifling innovation.”

Wong brought up the need for cyber regulatory harmonization. The Office of the National Cyber Director put out a 2023 request for information to get input on harmonizing cyber regulations and backed legislation, under former NCD Harry Coker, to create an interagency committee at the White House office tasked with developing a reciprocity framework.

“Fragmented cybersecurity mandates across federal agencies and critical infrastructure sectors remain one of the most persistent challenges for both industry and government,” Wong said. “Streamlining these requirements – while maintaining high quality baseline standards – would reduce compliance burdens, improve clarity, and help ensure that security investments yield meaningful results.”

Wong said, “This kind of coordination also aligns closely with Cairncross’s stated vision: an ONCD that drives coordinated, outcome-focused policy across agencies and with the private sector.”

Congress created the Senate-confirmed NCD position and ONCD under the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

Wong said, “Under the Biden administration, ONCD experienced many structural growing pains, particularly in defining and managing its relationship with the National Security Council. While interagency tension is not uncommon – especially for relatively newer offices – productive working relationships are essential to our long-term cyber resilience.”

Wong said, “With Cairncross at the helm of ONCD, there is reason to be confident that some of these growing pains will begin to subside. Throughout his confirmation process, Cairncross has stated that ONCD’s role should remain squarely within its statutory mission: coordinating federal cybersecurity policy and aligning closely with the President’s agenda. Cairncross has also recognized that effective coordination with interagency partners is vital to the success of this mission.”