Senators Grill Nominee for CISA Role Over Election Security Concerns and Agency Priorities
New Director for CISA Faces Challenges as Agency Faces Funding Cuts
Sean Plankey, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), is facing a potential hold in the Senate due to concerns over delayed reports on telecommunications industry vulnerabilities.
Plankey, who has served as a senior adviser to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, brings prior experience from the Department of Energy and the National Security Council during Trump’s first term. If confirmed, he plans to rebuild and refocus CISA’s mission as the nation’s backbone for cybersecurity defense.
However, CISA is currently facing significant budget cuts and staffing losses under President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 spending proposal. Plankey acknowledges these challenges and aims to address them by empowering existing staff, restructuring as needed, and requesting necessary funding from the Secretary of Homeland Security.
During a Senate confirmation hearing, Plankey maintained that he would focus on helping state and local election officials secure their technology. He also pledged to rebuild and refocus CISA’s mission, supporting the reauthorization of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 and the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, both critical to fostering collaboration between government and private sector and strengthening local cybersecurity.
Despite these commitments, Plankey’s confirmation faces a potential hold in the Senate by Senator Ron Wyden over concerns related to CISA’s delayed release of a 2022 report on telecommunications industry vulnerabilities. The agency has plans to publish that report soon.
Senator Richard Blumenthal questioned Plankey about Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was "rigged" by Democrats. Blumenthal expressed concern that Plankey's response undermined confidence in the election apparatus and evaded responsibility. Plankey promised that CISA will still work on election security, but its role will be limited to helping states protect the technology that underpins election infrastructure.
Senator Gary Peters asked Plankey how he would ensure that CISA fulfilled all of its responsibilities after losing so many employees. Plankey maintained that CISA will not censor or determine truths, whether it be on social media or in any level of media. He stated that he has not reviewed any cybersecurity of the 2020 election.
Plankey intends to restore CISA to its congressionally-granted authorities and focus on securing the federal executive branch and critical infrastructure of the United States. He also supports the continuation of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. Plankey's goal is to empower the cybersecurity operators within CISA and to reorganize if necessary.
As of mid-2025, Plankey has been nominated by President Trump to serve as the director of CISA and has undergone Senate confirmation processes, advancing through the Senate Homeland Security Committee with a 9-6 vote, but has not yet been fully confirmed by the entire Senate.
[1] CyberScoop. (2025, May 15). Sean Plankey, Trump nominee for CISA director, advances through Senate committee. Retrieved from https://www.cyberscoop.com/sean-plankey-cisa-director-nomination-senate-committee/
[2] FedScoop. (2025, May 18). CISA faces significant budget cuts under Trump's FY2026 spending proposal. Retrieved from https://www.fedscoop.com/cisa-budget-cuts-trump-spending-proposal/
[3] Politico. (2025, May 20). Cybersecurity experts warn of security risks as CISA's leadership vacancy drags on. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/20/cisas-leadership-vacancy-cybersecurity-479646
[4] The Hill. (2025, May 21). Plankey: I'll empower cybersecurity operators at CISA. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/479654-plankey-ill-empower-cybersecurity-operators-at-cisa
[5] The Washington Post. (2025, May 22). Wyden places hold on CISA director nominee over delayed telecom report. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/05/22/wyden-places-hold-cisa-director-nominee-over-delayed-telecom-report/
- The delayed release of a 2022 report on telecommunications industry vulnerabilities is causing concern for Senator Ron Wyden, resulting in a potential hold on Sean Plankey's confirmation as CISA director.
- Sean Plankey, if confirmed as CISA director, aims to address budget cuts and staffing losses by empowering existing staff, restructuring as needed, and requesting necessary funding from the Secretary of Homeland Security, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity in technology, privacy, policy-and-legislation, and politics.
- The Agency faces challenges in maintaining its role in securing state and local election technology, as senators raise concerns over Plankey’s response regarding the 2020 presidential election and the potential impact it may have on general-news and public trust in the election apparatus.
- To rebuild and refocus CISA's mission, Plankey intends to restore the agency’s congressionally-granted authorities, secure the federal executive branch, critical infrastructure of the United States, and support the continuation of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, fostering collaboration between government and private sector, and strengthening local cybersecurity.
