Sean Plankey, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has withdrawn himself from consideration for the role a year after being nominated.
In a letter to the White House Presidential Personnel Office, Plankey asked to have his nomination withdrawn, writing: “After thirteen months since my initial nomination, it has become clear the Senate will not confirm me.”
He added that his family was owed “greater certainty and work life balance,” according to the letter first reported by POLITICO.
Cybersecurity experts and industry leaders had praised Plankey when Trump first picked him in March 2025, but his nomination quickly stalled as lawmakers from both parties placed holds on it — holds that had little to do with Plankey himself.
Nick Andersen has been leading the CISA in an acting capacity after its previous acting leader, Madhu Gottumukkala, left in February amid a series of leadership incidents during his tenure.
CISA’s current acting leadership roster is publicly listed as Acting Director, Nick Andersen.
The cyber agency has lost roughly one-third of its staff since January 2025, including many senior leaders and top career officials, while the White House is seeking to cut CISA’s budget for the second year in a row.
The ongoing government shutdown has also delayed CISA’s plans to fill 300 “mission-critical” vacancies and forced the cancellation of CyberCorps summer internships, according to reporting by Federal News Network.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee and a prominent congressional voice on cyber oversight, issued a statement to Nextgov.com following the announcement.
“This is an important position and I sincerely hope it has permanent leadership soon. If there is any hope that we can rebuild CISA after it has been decimated by the Trump administration, a qualified professional must be nominated and confirmed swiftly,” Thompson said.
Image Credit: Adapted from public domain United States Department of Energy file photo.
