Trump nominee for CISA leadership withdraws from consideration

Donald Trump's twice-nominated candidate to lead the U.S. federal cybersecurity agency CISA has asked to withdraw from consideration, leaving the agency without a confirmed permanent director.

In a letter sent to the White House on Wednesday, Sean Plankey formally requested that the Trump administration withdraw his nomination, citing delays in the Senate, which must vote on and approve the appointment.

Plankey said it had "become clear" that the Senate would not confirm him, more than a year after he was initially nominated to head CISA.

The New York Times published a copy of Plankey's letter on Thursday, while Politico first reported his decision to step back from the nomination process. Both outlets reported that Plankey was unlikely to secure the necessary majority vote for confirmation, as Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) had been blocking the nomination over an unrelated Coast Guard contract issue. Plankey previously served as a senior adviser to Coast Guard leadership.

Nick Andersen has been serving as the acting director of CISA since Madhu Gottumukkala's departure in February. Gottumukkala had been appointed in May 2025 to lead the agency temporarily but stepped down less than a year later after what was described as a difficult tenure.

CISA is responsible for cybersecurity defence and infrastructure protection across the civilian federal government. The agency has faced a turbulent year, including at least three government shutdowns, multiple rounds of furloughs, and additional budget cuts and staff reductions directed by the White House, even as cyberattacks targeting the U.S. government and its allies have continued.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration also proposed cutting more than $700 million from CISA's budget, citing allegations that the agency was involved in "censorship" — a reference to its efforts to counter election misinformation during the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost.

A White House spokesperson did not immediately comment on whether the administration has accepted Plankey's withdrawal request or who may be nominated next to lead the agency permanently.