The U.S. Senate has confirmed Brian Cavanaugh as Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), filling one of the Department’s most critical leadership positions responsible for overseeing management, acquisition, human capital, information technology, financial management, and administrative operations across the nation’s third-largest federal department. Cavanaugh was confirmed as part of a package of executive branch nominees approved by the Senate ahead of the August recess.
The Under Secretary for Management serves as DHS’s chief management officer, leading efforts to modernize the Department’s business operations while supporting the mission execution of its component agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Cavanaugh brings extensive homeland security and national security experience to the role. Most recently, he served as Associate Director for Homeland Security at the Office of Management and Budget, where he oversaw homeland security policy and budget priorities across the federal government. Before joining OMB, he was Senior Vice President at American Global Strategies and previously served on the National Security Council as Senior Director for Resilience, leading efforts to strengthen U.S. preparedness against strategic threats, including cybersecurity, critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, and foreign adversary risks. Earlier in his career, Cavanaugh held senior leadership positions at DHS, including Executive Director for Strategic Planning and Integration, where he oversaw department-wide strategic planning, crisis response, health security, and preparedness initiatives.
His confirmation comes as DHS continues to modernize its enterprise management functions while supporting evolving operational priorities across border security, cybersecurity, emergency management, counterterrorism, and critical infrastructure protection. The Management Directorate plays a central role in ensuring the Department’s more than 260,000 employees have the resources, acquisition systems, technology, facilities, and workforce support necessary to carry out DHS’s diverse missions.
Cavanaugh was nominated by President Donald Trump in April and advanced favorably through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee before receiving final Senate confirmation.
As Under Secretary for Management, Cavanaugh will help guide the Department’s long-term modernization efforts while ensuring the enterprise management systems that underpin homeland security operations remain agile, efficient, and responsive to an increasingly complex threat environment.
