Senators challenge nominee for CISA position on election security measures and the agency's focus areas.
Sean Plankey, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has outlined his strategy for addressing the agency's budget cuts and workforce reductions under Trump's Fiscal Year 2026 spending proposal.
If confirmed as CISA director, Plankey aims to reorganize the agency to adapt to reduced resources and allow operational staff to focus on their core cybersecurity missions. He believes in the importance of empowering the staff responsible for cybersecurity defense to function effectively within the constrained budget and smaller workforce.
Plankey is aware of the significant cuts CISA has faced under Trump's administration. The agency's workforce has been reduced by more than 30 percent, and its budget has been sharply cut. However, he is determined to lead efforts to rebuild and refocus the agency despite these challenges.
To improve efficiency and continue fulfilling CISA's statutory responsibilities, Plankey suggests that reorganization might be necessary. This approach is framed as a pragmatic response to the "gutted" staffing and budget levels, aiming to strengthen key missions such as securing federal networks, supporting election security, and eliminating foreign supply chain threats, notably from China.
Plankey is also prepared to request additional funding if necessary by approaching Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for support. This shows his commitment to advocating for resources to meet unmet needs, despite the initial budget cuts.
Regarding concerns about CISA's role in election security, Plankey has stated that the agency's role will be limited to helping states protect the technology that underpins election infrastructure, rather than monitoring or countering online falsehoods. He emphasized that CISA will not engage in censorship or determining truths on social media or any level of media.
Plankey's confirmation as the head of CISA now awaits a vote in the homeland-security committee and a vote by the full Senate. His nomination was made in March 2021, and he currently serves as a senior adviser to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Plankey faced questions about the looming expiration of an information-sharing law and CISA's work on election security. He also served as the No. 2 official in the Energy Department's Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response during Trump's first term, and he worked as a director for cyber policy at the National Security Council, focusing on maritime cybersecurity issues.
Plankey did not express any review of the cybersecurity of the 2020 election in his Senate confirmation hearing. When asked about Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was "rigged" by Democrats, Plankey responded that he has not reviewed any of the cybersecurity of the 2020 election.
One of Plankey's priorities is to ensure that CISA fulfills all of its responsibilities after losing so many employees. He responded to Sen. Gary Peters' question about this by stating that his goal would be to empower the CISA operators to operate and do their best, and if necessary, reorganize or request additional funding.
Plankey supports the continuation of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, which provides funding to states and local governments to improve their cybersecurity capabilities. This support aligns with Plankey's commitment to strengthening CISA's key missions amid budget cuts and workforce reductions.
- Sean Plankey, if confirmed as CISA director, plans to reorganize the agency to adapt to reduced resources, allowing operational staff to focus on their core cybersecurity missions, recognizing the importance of privacy and cybersecurity in technology policy-and-legislation.
- Plankey is aware of the significant cuts CISA has faced under Trump's administration and the impact on privacy and cybersecurity, with the workforce being reduced by more than 30 percent and budget cuts.
- In the face of these challenges, Plankey is determined to lead efforts to rebuild and refocus CISA, with a focus on securing federal networks, supporting election security, and eliminating foreign supply chain threats, notably from China.
- Plankey's confirmation to lead CISA highlights the role of politics and general-news in shaping policy, as he faces scrutiny during his Senate confirmation hearing, addressing concerns about election security, cybersecurity policy, and the role of CISA in the 2020 election.
