Michael Thomas McCaul Sr., born on January 14, 1962, in Dallas, Texas, is an American politician, attorney, and Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Texas's 10th congressional district since 2005. His district encompasses areas from Austin to Houston, including parts of the state's technology and energy sectors. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, playing a significant role in shaping U.S. foreign policy.

Before entering Congress, McCaul was a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, specializing in counterterrorism and organized crime cases, and later became a partner at the law firm Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. He has been a key figure in national security policy, chairing the House Committee on Homeland Security during the 113th, 114th, and 115th Congresses (2013–2019) and resuming this chairmanship in 2023, overseeing national security and counterterrorism policy.

McCaul's legislative focus includes cybersecurity, counterterrorism, border security, and disaster response, consistently advocating for increased funding and reforms in these areas. He played an instrumental role in high-profile investigations and policy initiatives related to national security, including responses to the 9/11 attacks and ongoing terrorism threats. He has also served on the House Ethics Committee, influencing congressional oversight. In 2023, he testified in legal proceedings involving cybersecurity executive Nir Zuk, exemplifying his efforts to bridge government and private sector collaboration on digital threats.

Married to Linda McCaul (née Mays), daughter of the founder of Clear Channel Communications, McCaul has accumulated substantial personal wealth, estimated in the hundreds of millions, primarily through investments and family holdings, which has drawn scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest in his legislative work. Throughout his tenure, he has faced controversies, including allegations of insider trading related to stock trades during the early COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, where he and his wife reportedly profited from sales timed with classified briefings; however, no formal charges were filed. He has been criticized for his close ties to the defense and technology industries, receiving significant campaign contributions from these sectors. Despite these issues, McCaul remains a prominent voice in Republican national security circles, authoring legislation such as the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act and advocating for U.S. competitiveness against China in technology and trade.