Trump taps Sean Plankey to run CISA
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President Trump has nominated Sean Plankey, a veteran cyber official from his first administration, to run the lead U.S. cyber agency, according to a list of nominations sent to Congress.
Why it matters: If confirmed, Plankey will oversee the agency charged with securing the nation's critical infrastructure amid growing questions about its budget and workforce needs.
The big picture: Plankey's nomination rounds out the trio of cyber officials that the cybersecurity industry has been eagerly anticipating.
- The White House has named several new hires at the White House's National Security Council, with Alexei Bulazel leading the charge.
- Sean Cairncross has been nominated as the next national cyber director.
- Karen Evans, a veteran Trump cyber official, is already leading the cyber mission at CISA.
- Industry insiders on both side of the aisle are likely to be pleased with his selection.
Zoom in: The Trump administration has been eyeing Plankey for the coveted director role at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
- Plankey was a top cyber official at the Energy Department and he was the director of cyber policy at the White House during the first Trump administration.
- Since then, he's been in the private sector in various advisory and security executive roles, according to his LinkedIn.
- He also has experience in the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy and at U.S. Cyber Command working on intelligence matters.
What we're watching: Congress will weigh Plankey's nomination. It's not expected to face significant pushback from lawmakers.
- Sources have also floated Nick Andersen, a former Energy Department official, as the expected pick to be Plankey's No. 2 at CISA.
Go deeper: Trump taps RNC executive as national cyber director
