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White House disputes report Trump is considering Palantir CTO for CISA

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Summary

Two sources said Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar was a leading contender to lead CISA, but a White House official disputed the reported selection. The agency remains without a Senate-confirmed director as it prepares to implement a new AI executive order.

Key points

  • Two sources familiar with the search said Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar had emerged as a leading contender for CISA director.
  • After publication, a White House official said the reported selection was not accurate at that time.
  • CISA has lacked a Senate-confirmed director since Jen Easterly left in January 2025 and has been led by Acting Director Nick Andersen since February.
  • DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told lawmakers the administration was close to nominating a CISA director.
  • CISA is named in a new AI executive order and is expected to issue a binding directive outlining actions for other federal agencies.

Article Details

Event Type
Reported consideration of Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar for CISA director, disputed by a White House official; DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the administration was close to nominating a director.
Impact
CISA lacked a Senate-confirmed director, and its leadership is expected to oversee implementation of the administration’s AI executive order. The article also reports workforce and budget cuts at the agency and growing government attention to AI-related cybersecurity risks.

People

David SacksThe article reports that the former AI and crypto czar warned the president that an earlier version of the AI executive order could threaten American competitiveness and innovation.Jen EasterlyFormer CISA director; she stepped down in January 2025, after which the agency lacked a Senate-confirmed chief.Markwayne MullinDHS Secretary who told lawmakers the administration was close to nominating a CISA director.Nick AndersenIdentified in the article as CISA’s acting director since February.Sean PlankeyPreviously nominated for CISA director; he withdrew his name from consideration in April after senators blocked a confirmation vote for several months.Shyam SankarPalantir CTO and reported leading contender for the CISA director role; the White House disputed the reported selection, saying it was not accurate at that time.

Vendors

Anthropic#ShyamSankarPalantirShyam Sankar, the chief technology officer at Palantir Technologies, has emerged as a lead contender for the long vacant Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) director role, according to the sources,

Products

Mythos#ShyamSankar

Industries

Artificial intelligenceNews of Sankar’s possible nomination comes on the heels of the administration’s release of an artificial intelligence executive order on Tuesday.CybersecurityThe possible nomination comes as CISA remains without a Senate-confirmed director and as the administration pushes forward on new AI policy and cybersecurity priorities.GovernmentGovernment officials are increasingly focused on both the cybersecurity threats and opportunities posed by AI, particularly now, weeks after Anthropic’s Mythos platform surfaced as a technology capable of detecting and

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