Former Trump administration cybersecurity official Sean Plankey has been nominated to head the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), according to a Monday release of nominations.
Plankey’s nomination has been sent to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for review, marking a key move in reshaping U.S. cybersecurity leadership.
Who is Sean Plankey?
Plankey, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, previously served in several high-level cybersecurity roles under former President Donald Trump. His experience includes:
- Acting Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response at the Department of Energy.
- Director of Maritime and Pacific Cybersecurity Policy at the National Security Council.
- Deputy Officer in Charge of the Expeditionary Cyber Support Element at U.S. Cyber Command, where he earned a Bronze Star for his work in offensive cyber operations in Afghanistan.
Until last month, he was the general manager and global head of cybersecurity software at Indigo Vault, a firm specializing in post-quantum encryption and document protection.
Plankey has declined to comment on his nomination.
CISA Under Scrutiny Amid Leadership Shift
CISA, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has faced intense criticism in recent months. Senate Homeland Security Chairman Rand Paul has reportedly suggested eliminating the agency.
During her January confirmation hearing, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem criticized CISA for expanding its role to countering disinformation under the Biden administration.
“CISA needs to be much more effective, smaller, more nimble, to really fulfill its mission,” Noem stated. “Its purpose is to hunt and harden—finding bad actors and working with local and state infrastructure to prepare for cyberattacks.”
Cyber Experts Applaud Plankey’s Nomination
Cybersecurity insiders have praised Plankey’s nomination, citing his deep expertise and no-nonsense approach.
Brian Harrell, former assistant director for infrastructure security at CISA, called Plankey a “straight shooter” who will work to refocus the agency on risk reduction and defending against adversaries like China.
Similarly, Mark Montgomery, former executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, called Plankey a “great hire”, emphasizing his broad government experience and ability to navigate interagency challenges.
Plankey’s Stance on Cybersecurity Challenges
In a September interview with Recorded Future News, Plankey emphasized that Trump takes cybersecurity seriously.
One of the key cybersecurity issues Plankey has championed is “Know Your Customer” (KYC)—a regulation requiring cloud providers to verify their customers’ identities. Although the Biden administration included KYC in its national cyber strategy, it never implemented the rules.
Plankey argues that failing to enforce KYC has made nation-state attacks easier.
U.S. Cybersecurity and Foreign Policy
Plankey has also stressed the need for reciprocity in cyber relations, arguing that China should not have unfettered access to U.S. infrastructure while blocking American companies.
He has also called for greater scrutiny of foreign-made critical infrastructure components, likening it to wartime supply chains.
The Monday nominations list also included:
- Aaron Lukas, a former adviser to Ric Grenell, nominated as Deputy Director of National Intelligence.
- George Wesley Street, tapped to lead the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.
With CISA under scrutiny and cybersecurity threats rising, Plankey’s leadership could mark a major shift in the agency’s direction. If confirmed, he will face the challenge of restoring trust, strengthening cyber defenses, and refocusing the agency on its core mission.
