White House Unveils Cyber Strategy To Strengthen Workforce and National Security

The new Cyber Strategy for America, released on March 6 by the White House, outlines an approach to cybersecurity that emphasizes a proactive and unified stance across federal, state, local, tribal and private sector partners. The strategy also signals an emphasis on workforce development, including plans for a cyber academy to train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. 

White House National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross described the strategy as a road map to better align federal resources and interagency actions and deepen collaboration with industry, state and local partners to counter evolving cyber threats. 

“The strategy that we released on Friday is a very straightforward, very plain-spoken document to set a direction that will more show resources and actions across the interagency and, just as importantly, with our partners in the private sector and with state, local, territorial, tribal partners,” said Cairncross at the Billington State and Local CyberSecurity Summit on March 9. 

“We all face the same threat actors, and it impacts daily life in America,” he said.

The strategy has six pillars of action: 

1. Shape adversary behavior 

2. Promote common sense regulation 

3. Modernize and secure federal government networks 

4. Secure critical infrastructure 

5. Sustain superiority in critical and emerging technologies 

6. Build talent and capacity 

In a fireside chat moderated by Tom Billington, chairman and chief content officer of Billington CyberSecurity, Cairncross emphasized the strategy’s whole-of-government approach and focus on artificial intelligence and the workforce. 

“We are engaged in the process right now of developing a cyber academy,” Cairncross said. The plan includes “taking the existing federal programs right now, creating a pipeline, lining them up so that they are in support of a patriotic cyber force. 

“The President’s been very clear. He wants to work on the workforce piece of it. He wants us to find solutions that don’t necessarily require a four-year degree. If we’ve got certificate programs, assign the talent, and let’s get it to work.” 

A panel featuring members of the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) emphasized that fostering open, two-way communication between federal, state and local partners is critical for effective cyber incident response. Brandon Dues, deputy assistant national cyber director, stressed that “the federal government can’t and should not do this alone.” 

Industry leaders also weighed in on the strategy. Felipe Fernandez, Fortinet Federal chief technology officer, said it “reinforces that critical infrastructure and federal systems must be defensible, resilient and capable of disrupting threats at scale.” 

Michael Bell, Suzu Labs founder and chief executive officer, said the six pillars are the right priorities, but he stressed that implementation will be critical. 

“The implementation plans need acquisition reform, real funding for post-quantum migration and measurable timelines," Bell said. "That's what separates policy from paper." 

In his closing remarks, Cairncross delivered a message to industry members.

“You have a partner in the federal government," Cairncross said. "We want to work closely with you, and we want to make sure that you have the information you need.”