The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency announced on July 1 the formation of a new advisory body that will foster collaboration, coordination, and information sharing between the federal government and critical infrastructure stakeholders.

 

What happened

CISA established the Alliance of National Councils for Homeland Operational Resilience - Critical Infrastructure (ANCHOR-CI) to provide group advice and recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security and CISA. The advisory body will assist federal efforts around cybersecurity, critical infrastructure security and resilience, terrorism, and other potential threats. Representatives from all levels of government and critical infrastructure entities make up ANCHOR-CI, and members will review current and emerging threats and vulnerabilities and share best practices. ANCHOR-CI may include four types of councils: critical infrastructure sector councils, cross-sector councils, critical infrastructure industry councils, and regional coordinating councils. The Secretary of Homeland Security chartered ANCHOR-CI to operate for two years, unless the Secretary extends it.

 

Going deeper

DHS chartered ANCHOR-CI in June 2026. CISA's Stakeholder Engagement Division implements the ANCHOR-CI framework through the ANCHOR-CI Executive Secretariat, which the ANCHOR-CI Designated Federal Officer (DFO) leads. CISA operates and administers the framework as part of its statutory responsibility to serve as National Coordinator, a role that requires the agency to coordinate a national effort to secure and protect critical infrastructure. Through this role, CISA aims to make ANCHOR-CI a convening mechanism for critical infrastructure partner engagement across the nation. ANCHOR-CI also aims to encourage collaboration among Sector Risk Management Agencies (SRMAs) and critical infrastructure stakeholders.

What was said

In CISA's press release announcing the framework, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin called ANCHOR-CI "a game changer in how the public and private sectors collaborate and share information." He added that "in a rapidly evolving threat environment, ANCHOR-CI will ensure we have the right people in the room working together to keep the critical infrastructure Americans rely on secure and resilient."

CISA Acting Director Nick Andersen said the framework "was developed to address the unique challenges our partners face, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met." He also said that by establishing ANCHOR-CI, the agency is "not only fulfilling its core statutory mission but also strengthening our collective ability to safeguard the vital services Americans rely on every day."

 

Why it matters

Critical infrastructure sectors like energy, water, and healthcare depend on fast, reliable coordination between government agencies and the private entities that run these systems. Before ANCHOR-CI, that coordination lacked a single, standing framework spanning sector-specific, cross-sector, industry, and regional levels at once. By formalizing four distinct council types under one advisory body, CISA is trying to close gaps where threat information might otherwise stay siloed within a single sector or region instead of reaching the broader network of stakeholders who need it.

 

The bottom line

ANCHOR-CI gives the federal government and critical infrastructure stakeholders a formal, multi-level structure for sharing threat intelligence and best practices. Organizations that operate critical infrastructure should watch for opportunities to participate in or engage with the relevant councils as they operate over the next two years.

 

FAQs

What is critical infrastructure?

Critical infrastructure refers to the systems and assets, such as energy, water, healthcare, and transportation, that are essential to national security, public health, and the economy.

 

What was the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC)?

CIPAC was an earlier advisory framework that facilitated coordination between government and private-sector critical infrastructure partners before ANCHOR-CI replaced it.

 

What is a Sector Risk Management Agency (SRMA)?

An SRMA is a federal agency designated to oversee cybersecurity and resilience efforts for a specific critical infrastructure sector.

 

What is Section 871 of the Homeland Security Act?

Section 871 is the statutory provision that allows DHS to establish advisory committees, such as ANCHOR-CI, and grants the Secretary authority to extend their operation.