IC Workforce & Organization — 2026-11-10

Trump Nominates Palantir Security Chief Michael LoSapio to Lead CISA After 22 Months Without Permanent Director

BLUFSenate confirmation of Michael LoSapio as CISA director by January 3, 2027 is very unlikely, leaving the agency without permanent leadership well into its third year amid mounting cyber threats and depleted staffing.

The White House stated on Monday that President Trump nominated Michael LoSapio, Palantir's chief information security officer, to direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency 12. Reuters reported the agency has lacked a Senate-confirmed leader for almost 22 months, its staffing has fallen by about a third since January 2025, and the nomination follows breaches at DHS, the FBI and the Pentagon disclosed in the past three months 1. Nextgov/FCW reported that LoSapio would replace acting director Nick Andersen, that Trump's prior nominee Sean Plankey withdrew in April, and that Republicans have a crowded calendar before the Democratic majority takes over 3. CyberScoop reported that Democrats have scrutinized Palantir's DHS work, which the company denies amounts to mass surveillance, and that Sen. Ron Wyden plans renewed inquiries into the company 34.

Analysis
The Senate is very unlikely to confirm LoSapio as CISA director by January 3, 2027. Confidence is moderate, resting on consistent reporting across the White House, Reuters, CyberScoop and Nextgov/FCW and on a clear calendar constraint, though no hearing date is yet visible. Republicans hold the Senate only through a lame-duck session already crowded with government funding and defense legislation, and Democrats led by Wyden are primed to scrutinize Palantir's DHS work. The prior nominee waited over a year without a vote. The White House passed over CTO Shyam Sankar, reported in June as the leading candidate, and arrived about three months behind the signaled timeline. The nomination may mainly pause Andersen's acting-director clock and signal tech-sector alignment, with a confirmation fight expected in the next Congress. Absent confirmation, Andersen's acting authority and Palantir oversight become the planning assumptions, and LoSapio must be renominated before a Democratic-led Senate.

4 sources

White House nominates Palantir's LoSapio to lead Homeland Security's cyber agency - Reuters (via Yahoo News)
Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate - The White House
Trump nominates Palantir security chief Michael LoSapio to lead CISA - Nextgov/FCW
Trump picks Palantir’s LoSapio to head CISA - CyberScoop