CISA nominee's confirmation process halted as Sen. Wyden demands telecom inquiry report
## Telecom Security Concerns Delay Sean Plankey's Nomination as CISA Director
The nomination of Sean Plankey, President Trump's pick to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), is currently on hold in the U.S. Senate. The delay, initiated by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), is due to concerns about the security practices of U.S. telecom firms.
Senator Wyden has been advocating for cybersecurity improvements in the telecom industry since before the Trump administration. In April 2023, he sent a letter to former CISA Director Jen Easterly and NSA Director Gen. Paul Nakasone, requesting cybersecurity audits for FirstNet, a phone network used by first responders and the U.S. military [6].
The senator's concern was further heightened by the revelation of the Salt Typhoon threat group, linked to the People's Republic of China, gaining access to the networks of nine major telecommunications firms [1]. This state-linked effort aimed to infiltrate the networks of U.S. telecom firms, potentially allowing for the hacking into sensitive phone records and in many cases, gaining access to actual communications of top U.S. officials [2].
In light of these concerns, Wyden has placed a hold on Plankey's nomination, calling for the disclosure of an unclassified 2022 report on security practices at U.S. telecom firms [1]. The hold is due to the refusal to publicly release this report, which Wyden cites as a reason for the disclosure of the report's contents [3].
AT&T and Verizon were able to evict the hackers from their respective networks with the help of forensics experts [4]. However, the delay in the nomination of Plankey as CISA director could be prolonged due to ongoing administrative efforts to eliminate thousands of jobs in the federal bureaucracy, potentially complicating the process further [5].
Keith Chu, deputy policy director and spokesperson for Wyden, stated that the administration can easily comply with Sen. Wyden's request and proceed with the nomination [7]. The administration is considering a major purge of jobs at CISA through a combination of buyouts and additional terminations [8].
As the situation develops, the Senate awaits the release of the 2022 report on telecom security practices, which could potentially clear the way for Plankey's confirmation hearing and a vote on the Senate floor. The stakes are high, as the security of U.S. telecommunications networks is vital to national security and the protection of citizens' privacy.
[1] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/25/senator-ron-wyden-holds-up-sean-plankeys-nomination-for-cisa-405323 [2] https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/10/sen-ron-wyden-requests-cybersecurity-audits-for-firstnet-402484 [3] https://www.politico.com/news/2022/12/13/sen-ron-wyden-holds-up-homeland-security-nomination-over-cell-phone-surveillance-technology-400712 [4] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/02/28/att-verizon-hacked-chinese-state-linked-group/ [5] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/15/administration-considering-major-purge-of-jobs-at-cisa-through-combination-of-buyouts-and-additional-terminations-404940 [6] https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/10/sen-ron-wyden-requests-cybersecurity-audits-for-firstnet-402484 [7] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/26/senator-ron-wyden-says-he-will-release-hold-on-sean-plankeys-cisa-nomination.html [8] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/15/administration-considering-major-purge-of-jobs-at-cisa-through-combination-of-buyouts-and-additional-terminations-404940
- The safety of U.S. telecommunications networks is of utmost importance, not only for national security but also for the protection of citizens' privacy, as demonstrated by the recent revelation of a Chinese state-linked group accessing nine major telecom firms.
- Senator Ron Wyden, a long-time advocate for cybersecurity improvements, has placed a hold on Sean Plankey's nomination as the CISA director, demanding the disclosure of an unclassified 2022 report on security practices at U.S. telecom firms.
- The ongoing impasse underscores the critical need for policy-and-legislation regarding cybersecurity within the telecom industry, a topic that significantly influences technology, general news, and politics.
