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. 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. Authorizing legislation for the office permitted the hiring of up to 75 staff, however, failed to appropriate any funds to do so. 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. Later in 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provided $21 million in funding for the ONCD. On March 2, 2023, the office published a national cybersecurity strategy and on July 31, 2023, the office published a national cyber workforce and education strategy. Less than a month into President
Donald Trump's second term in office, he nominated
Sean Cairncross to serve as national cyber director. It was not until August 2, 2025, that the
U.S. Senate confirmed Cairncross for the role. ==List of national cyber directors==