DHS has formally established a replacement for the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC): the Alliance of National Councils for Homeland Operational Resilience—Critical Infrastructure (ANCHOR-CI), managed by CISA. Its charter sets out how the advisory structure can work, but does not announce a public membership process or operating calendar. A separate proposal for a DHS-led AI Information Sharing and Analysis Center (AI-ISAC) has no confirmed launch date or public membership route.
What replaced CIPAC?
The replacement is ANCHOR-CI. A Department of Homeland Security notice published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2026, formally established the advisory structure and described how it can bring together critical-infrastructure sector councils, cross-sector councils, industry councils and regional councils. The body advises the Homeland Security Secretary through the CISA Director; it does not make policy or operate infrastructure.
The change follows DHS’s disbanding of CIPAC, which was reported by CyberScoop. In a February 3, 2026 briefing, CISA executive assistant director for cybersecurity Nick Andersen said CIPAC’s original charter had not explicitly focused on cybersecurity. He also noted that operational technology (OT) had previously been nested under the IT Sector Coordinating Council. Andersen said the replacement could give communities that had lacked representation a more substantive voice.
How is ANCHOR-CI supposed to work?
The Federal Register charter establishes the framework rather than a roster of participants or a schedule of meetings. Its main roles and terms are:
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- Administration: CISA provides funding and administrative support. Councils send advice, recommendations and reports through the CISA Director.
- Participation: The CISA Director approves participating entities, individual participants and subject-matter experts. Participants represent their organizations and serve without compensation; they may be required to sign gratuitous-services and nondisclosure agreements.
- Possible council types: The structure can include critical-infrastructure sector councils, cross-sector councils, industry councils for issues that do not fit within one sector, and regional councils, including rural representation.
- Terms and duration: Membership terms are generally two years. ANCHOR-CI is set to terminate two years after establishment unless DHS extends it under statutory authority.
The Federal Register notice explicitly says, “This Notice is not a solicitation for membership.” Companies should not treat publication of the charter as an open application period.
Will the new structure cover OT, undersea cables and regional concerns?
The charter allows a more modular approach than a single council: sector-specific groups can focus on their own operating environments, while cross-sector, industry and regional councils can address dependencies or risks that cut across traditional boundaries. That structure could accommodate dedicated attention to OT, undersea cables and rural infrastructure, but the charter does not establish which councils will be formed or name their members.
For context, the Government Accountability Office identifies 16 U.S. critical-infrastructure sectors. The number describes the federal sector framework, not a confirmed count of ANCHOR-CI councils.
When will DHS launch the AI-ISAC?
There is no verified public launch date. America’s AI Action Plan recommends establishing an AI-ISAC led by DHS, but that recommendation is not itself an operational launch announcement. In the February 3, 2026 briefing, Andersen said he could not provide a timeline and cautioned against creating a government entity that runs parallel to industry efforts. He said the administration wanted to “get that relationship right.”
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should operators assess whether the new approach is working?
Formal charters and policy recommendations show direction, not delivery. Operators and companies can judge implementation against four practical questions:
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- Representation: Do the councils include OT, specialized industries and regional voices, including rural communities?
- Risk coverage: Is cybersecurity an explicit focus, and does the AI-ISAC move from a recommendation to a functioning channel for AI-security information?
- Trust and safeguards: Are participation expectations, confidentiality, and liability protections clear enough for companies to share sensitive information? These were design considerations in February reporting, not settled operating rules.
- Execution: Are there public milestones, timelines and measurable outputs? GAO has reported that CISA was updating infrastructure guidance and seeking better coordination with sector partners without setting milestones and timelines for completing those efforts. Its page says CISA’s NSM-22 policy review resumed in June 2026 while further administration guidance was still awaited.
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