President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the government’s civilian cyber defense agency is withdrawing from consideration after his candidacy fell short in the Senate.
Sean Plankey informed Homeland Security Secretary Markway Mullin (R-Okla.) and the White House of his intentions on Wednesday, Plankey confirmed to POLITICO.
“Thirteen months after my initial nomination, it has become clear that the Senate will not confirm me,” Plankey wrote in a letter sent to the White House on Wednesday, which was seen by POLITICO. “While I humbly request the removal of my nomination, I wholeheartedly support President Trump’s upcoming nomination for CISA and look forward to the United States’ continued success.”
Spokespeople for the White House, DHS and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump nominates Sean Plankey to lead CISA march 2025In","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":({"Name": :"presentation","price": :"Role","_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f120000","_Type": :"f601356c-0e4b-3847-a646-21bd958d59ca"},{"Name": :"label","price": :"in March 2025","_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f120001","_Type": :"f601356c-0e4b-3847-a646-21bd958d59ca"},{"Name": :"Class","price": :"Enhancements rte2-style-brightspot-rte-link-linkrichtextelement rte2-style-brightspot-rte-link-linkrichtextelement-start rte2-style-brightspot-rte-link-linkrichtextelement-end","_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f120002","_Type": :"f601356c-0e4b-3847-a646-21bd958d59ca"}),"url": :"https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/03/trump-formally-nominates-sean-plankey-to-head-cisa-00223327","_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f120003","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f120004","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>in March 2025. He was largely seen as a stable choice for the agency, and after a mild drama he was kicked off the Homeland Security Committee. 9-6 vote in July. He was re-nominated for the role in January, along with other nominees.
But the GOP Senate majority was unable to achieve the necessary unanimity to advance his nomination, largely due to resistance from Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.). A controversial coast guard shipbuilding projectBut","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter/2026/02/why-a-coast-guard-contract-is-holding-up-trumps-lead-pick-00581185","_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f120005","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f120006","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>On a controversial coast guard shipbuilding project.
Plankey spent much of her time awaiting confirmation as senior advisor to then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on Coast Guard issues. He resigned from that role some time ago","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter/2026/03/could-noem-and-plankeys-departures-help-cisa-00581185","_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f120007","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f120008","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>a little while ago Noem’s departure last month.
During Trump’s first term, Plankey served in cybersecurity roles at the National Security Council and the Department of Energy.
Plankey’s return is the latest leadership change at the top cyber defense agency, which has lost approximately one-third of its personnel","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.axios.com/2025/06/03/cisa-staff-layoffs-resignations-trump-cuts","_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f130000","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f130001","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>about one-third of its employees Since Trump returned to office. The agency has also worked through interim leadership, re-appointing former acting CISA director Madhu Gottumukkala in late February","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/26/madhu-gottumuklakala-dhs-cisa-00803221","_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f130002","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f130003","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>Reassigned in late February After a series of accidents","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/28/cisa-cyber-leadership-madhu-gottumuklakala-00804515","_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f130004","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-b6c2-dea4-a19d-f6ce5f130005","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>series of accidents This worried current and former officials of the agency.
Nick Anderson took over as acting director after Gottumukkala’s departure. Anderson could remain in the post for several months while the agency waits for the White House to put forward another nominee for the post who is confirmed by the Senate.
