Sean Plankey Departs Coast Guard Role Amid Delayed CISA Nomination
President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Sean Plankey, is leaving his advisory role at the U.S. Coast Guard (within the Department of Homeland Security), according to multiple people familiar with the matter. Reporting indicates Plankey is still expected to remain the nominee, but his confirmation timeline remains uncertain amid broader Senate friction and holds that have slowed nominations; one report also notes he may receive an award ceremony tied to his departure.
Plankey privately told stakeholders he left the Coast Guard role to address concerns tied to a Republican senator’s hold on his nomination, saying the move was intended to demonstrate he is no longer involved in shipbuilding-related work that had raised questions. The hold was described as unrelated to cybersecurity and instead connected to a Coast Guard cutter contract issue involving Eastern Shipbuilding Group; Plankey said he is focused on the CISA nomination and prepared to lead federal cyber defense efforts. Separately reported IRS privacy and data-sharing controversies are not directly connected to Plankey’s nomination or his Coast Guard departure.
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