After months of speculation about who would lead America’s cyber defense agency, former President Trump has tapped Sean Plankey to head the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
The March 11 nomination puts a familiar face in charge of an agency that’s seen better days. Plankey, a former Coast Guard officer with serious cyber chops, brings a resume that spans military, government, and private sector experience.
Trump’s pick for CISA chief brings impressive cross-sector experience to an agency currently navigating turbulent waters.
He’s no stranger to Trump world. Plankey served in the first Trump administration at both the Department of Energy and National Security Council. He even had a brief stint at CISA itself, appointed as assistant director for infrastructure security back in 2020. Talk about coming full circle.
The timing couldn’t be more interesting. CISA just cut over 130 positions and has been operating under interim leadership since January when Jen Easterly headed for the exit. Plankey’s inheriting a mess, honestly.
He’ll join a trio of cyber heavyweights in Trump’s administration. Alexei Bulazel’s running point at the National Security Council, Sean Cairncross got the nod for national cyber director, and Karen Evans is already at CISA handling the cyber mission. It’s like the cybersecurity Avengers, minus the cool costumes.
The cybersecurity industry seems pretty cool with the pick. Plankey co-authored the National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan and even deployed to Afghanistan for cyber support. His appointment comes amid concerns about his security clearance status that could affect his ability to access classified information. This announcement was made via White House email to journalists on Tuesday. Guy knows his stuff.
But it won’t be smooth sailing. Republicans have grumbled about CISA’s past work on disinformation, claiming the agency suppressed conservative voices. Plankey will need to navigate those choppy political waters while keeping America’s digital infrastructure from burning down.
Election security will be the real test. Can he maintain CISA’s technical credibility while satisfying his boss’s well-known views on election matters? That’s the trillion-dollar question.
Plankey requires Senate confirmation before officially taking charge. If confirmed, he’ll be responsible for implementing the zero trust architecture mandated by the 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy across federal agencies. Until then, Bridget Bean continues as interim director. The cyber world watches and waits.
