Top CISA official Eric Goldstein to depart agency next month

Eric Goldstein, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s executive assistant director for cybersecurity, will depart the agency next month, CISA confirmed Thursday.

Goldstein helped lead several initiatives since joining the agency in an official Biden-era capacity in 2021, including CISA’s sweeping secure-by-design work that culminated in a major pledge unveiled last week.

CNN first reported his departure. It’s unclear what his next plans entail.

It’s not uncommon for officials to leave positions as the end of a presidential term approaches. Several high profile cyber officials announced plans to leave the administration over the past couple of months, including federal CISO Chris DeRusha.

“I could not be prouder of the work that Eric Goldstein has done to move CISA forward as an agency,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly in a press statement. “He has helped catalyze a shift across the agency to data-driven risk reduction and built an inclusive team that has enabled CISA and our partners to confront the serious cyber threats facing our country.”

Goldstein worked in DHS’s National Protection and Programs Directorate — the predecessor entity to CISA, which was established in 2018 — between 2013 and 2017. Prior to public sector service, he ran cybersecurity policy at Goldman Sachs.