DHS, cyber industry mobilize to get CISA director nominee confirmed

Sean Plankey, nominee to be director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, testifies during his Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen building on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

A new obstacle in the confirmation process for a key Trump cybersecurity nominee has prompted government and industry officials to mount a final effort to fill the post before year’s end. But with little time left on the congressional calendar, the confirmation remains uncertain.

After Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., placed a hold on Sean Plankey’s nomination to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, cybersecurity policy executives and staff from both the U.S. government and private sector have begun pushing Scott’s office to pull the hold and free up valuable procedural time, according to four people familiar with the matter.

With the hold in place ...