Trending Now - Trump's CISA Nominee Withdraws Amid Party Pushback and Delays
WHO:
CyberScoop - Sean Plankey requested President Trump to withdraw his nomination from consideration.
Alternet - Sean Plankey, President Trump's nominee to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Alternet - Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security.
Alternet - Rick Scott, U.S. Senator from Florida.
Alternet - Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator from North Carolina.
Alternet - John Kennedy, U.S. Senator from Louisiana.
Alternet - Kristi Noem, former head of Homeland Security.
Alternet - Madhu Gottumukkala, former acting CISA Director.
WHAT:
CyberScoop - Plankey stated in a notification letter, “At this point in time, I am asking the President to remove my nomination from consideration,” citing that “after thirteen months since my initial nomination, it has become clear that the Senate will not confirm me.”
CyberScoop - Plankey retired from the Coast Guard in March 2026.
CyberScoop - Nick Andersen is currently serving as acting director of CISA.
Alternet - Sean Plankey withdrew his nomination to lead CISA on April 20th, 2026.
Alternet - Plankey's nomination was stalled for over a year due to resistance from Senator Rick Scott.
Alternet - CISA has lost approximately one-third of its personnel since Trump returned to office.
Alternet - The agency has experienced multiple leadership changes, including the reassignment of Madhu Gottumukkala in late February 2026.
WHERE:
Alternet - The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is a U.S. government agency.
WHEN:
CyberScoop - Plankey's request to withdraw his nomination was made on April 20th, 2026.
Alternet - Sean Plankey was nominated by Trump in March 2025.
Alternet - Plankey withdrew his nomination on April 20th, 2026.
Alternet - Madhu Gottumukkala was reassigned in late February 2026.
WHY:
CyberScoop - Plankey's nomination faced holds from numerous senators, including Senator Rick Scott, over matters unrelated to cybersecurity.
Alternet - Plankey faced objections from Senator Rick Scott regarding his policies on a Coast Guard shipbuilding project.
Alternet - Tensions arose between Plankey and Gottumukkala over cybersecurity contracts.
HOW:
CyberScoop - Plankey discussed withdrawing his nomination with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Alternet - Plankey's nomination was delayed due to Senate schedules and the upcoming campaign season.
Alternet - Senator Thom Tillis threatened to stall Trump's nominees unless Kristi Noem addressed inquiries from his state regarding immigration and disaster relief policy.
(UPDATED April 23, 2026 04:05 UTC)
on Monday, Sean Plankey requested President Trump to withdraw his nomination for a position, stating in a letter that after thirteen months, it had become clear the Senate would not confirm him. Plankey, who retired from the Coast Guard in March, faced holds from several senators, including Rick Scott, over issues unrelated to cybersecurity. Currently, Nick Andersen is serving as the acting director of CISA while Plankey discussed his withdrawal with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
--
(UPDATED April 22, 2026 23:16 UTC)
Sean Plankey has withdrawn his nomination to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, after facing over a year of resistance from Senator Rick Scott, particularly concerning his policies on a Coast Guard shipbuilding project. CISA has seen significant turmoil recently, losing about one-third of its personnel since Trump returned to office and experiencing multiple leadership changes, including the reassignment of Madhu Gottumukkala in late February. Tensions between Plankey and Gottumukkala also arose over cybersecurity contracts, while Senator Thom Tillis threatened to stall Trump's nominees unless Kristi Noem addressed immigration and disaster relief inquiries from his state.