Trump nominates Plankey to lead CISA

President Trump has named Sean Plankey to become the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, according to a list of newly filed nominations.

If confirmed, Plankey would succeed Jen Easterly as head of CISA and would fill out one the last remaining cybersecurity leadership roles in the federal government. 

The agency has been under pressure in recent weeks after it went through a major round of job cuts, with more than 130 positions slashed in mid-February as part of cost-cutting measures since the administration took office. 

Plankey served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for cybersecurity, energy security and emergency response at the Department of Energy during the first Trump term.

He also served as director of cyber policy at the National Security Council from 2018 to 2019. 

Karen Evans was named in late February as the executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA.

Sean Cairncross was nominated in mid-February for the national cyber director role at the White House. He would succeed Harry Coker Jr., who served under the Biden administration.