Sean Plankey, of Pennsylvania, responds to questioning during Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearings to examine his nomination to be Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, of the Department of Homeland Security, in the Dirksen Senate office building, in Washington, DC, on Wednesday July 24, 2025. (Mattie Neretin/CNP/Sipa USA)
Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump, walks with Sean Cairncross, then-CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, through the alleys of Rabat’s Old city on Nov. 7, 2019. (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)
The nominee, who doesn’t have as much cyber experience as his predecessors, also touted his credentials and views on current threats during his Senate confirmation hearing.
Wooden block with target icon linked with wooden peg dolls connect link for customers focus group, development resource achievement to target, customer relationship management concept
Chairman Sen. Rand Paul (L), R-Ky., and Ranking Member Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., (R) listens during a nomination hearing with the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on April 3. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Eric Swalwell said legislative priorities include an expiring information-sharing law and making a threat information-sharing organization permanent.
David Weinberg, staff director for Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, speaks during the FedScoop-produced Elastic Public Sector Summit in Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2025. (EPNAC / Photos by Sergey Kolupaev)
Lawmakers also need to take action on legislation to better harmonize federal cybersecurity regulations, Democrats’ staff director on a key Senate committee said.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, speaks during her confirmation hearing before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill on Friday. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)