PERSPECTIVE: The Price of Empty Chairs: What We Lose When No One is in Charge: Part I

Professor of Practice Ann Dunkin writes a piece for Homeland Security Today on the hidden costs and national security vulnerabilities of leaderless federal agencies.

Excerpt:
On April 22, 2026, thirteen months after he was nominated, Sean Plankey asked that the White House withdraw his nomination for the role of CISA Director. During that thirteen-month period, two senators, Ron Wyden, a Democrat, and Rick Scott, a Republican, had placed holds on Plankey’s nomination. While Wyden’s hold was related to a CISA report that he wanted declassified and released, Scott’s hold was not related to CISA. Neither hold had anything to do with Plankey’s qualifications for the role or his conduct.

CISA was created in November 2018, and Chris Krebs immediately began serving as the founding director and served until leaving shortly after the 2020 election. Jen Easterly was nominated for the role in April 2021 and was confirmed in July 2021 after a short delay, due to a hold by Senator Scott.