President Trump's nominee to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Sean Plankey, has withdrawn his candidacy after waiting over a year for Senate confirmation, according to a letter obtained by The New York Times and confirmed by a Senate aide.
An aide on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee told The Hill that the panel is aware Plankey requested his nomination be pulled, though official withdrawal paperwork from the White House has not yet arrived. Politico first reported the withdrawal.
In his letter to the White House, Plankey wrote that “it has become clear the Senate will not confirm me,” after 13 months since his initial nomination. He added, “My wife and young family are owed greater certainty and work life balance from their husband and father. The Nation and Department of Homeland Security Secretary MarkWayne Mullin requires a confirmed Director of CISA without further delay.” He also expressed full support for Trump's upcoming nominee for the role.
Plankey's path to confirmation was blocked by multiple Republican senators. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) placed a hold on his nomination for more than a year over a dispute involving a Coast Guard shipbuilding contract. Plankey had served as an adviser to then-DHS Secretary Kristen Noem on Coast Guard matters until last month. Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) also held up the nomination over concerns related to disaster recovery funds.
The prolonged vacancy at CISA has drawn criticism from former acting director Bridget Bean, who told Politico in February that the agency is a “hot mess” and expressed serious concerns about the lack of a Senate-confirmed cyber leader. Bean, a former FEMA official, served as acting director before being replaced by Madhu Gottumukkala, who has since moved to a strategic implementation role. Nick Anderson now serves as acting director of CISA.
The White House and CISA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The withdrawal leaves the agency—responsible for defending U.S. critical infrastructure from cyber threats—without a permanent leader amid ongoing tensions with Iran and other adversaries. This comes as the Trump administration faces multiple security challenges, including ruling out nuclear use on Iran and accusations of state-sponsored terrorism.
Plankey's exit underscores the gridlock in confirming top cybersecurity officials, even as the IEA chief warns global energy security is at a historic breaking point. The agency's leadership void could hamper efforts to coordinate responses to cyber incidents, a concern that has been echoed by lawmakers and industry experts alike.
