The failure to fill the role, which would be responsible for coordinating the entire U.S. government’s defensive cyber operations, comes as the new administration grapples with how to kick suspected Russian and Chinese hackers out of federal cyber infrastructure following two major breaches. And it lays bare the challenges in setting up a brand new agency that could encroach upon some power centers in the White House, particularly the National Security Council.
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who serves as co-chairman of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission — the body that successfully pushed for the inclusion of the National Cyber Director role in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act — said he was “frustrated” by the delay.
“It’s like we are in conflict and they are not appointing the secretary of defense,” he said. “I would hate to have another attack…
