Trump Nominates Palantir CISO Michael LoSapio to Lead CISA

President Donald Trump nominated Michael LoSapio, chief information security officer at Palantir, to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). If confirmed, LoSapio would head the federal government’s primary civilian cyberdefense agency, responsible for helping protect federal networks and working with operators of water systems, power grids, telecommunications networks, and other critical infrastructure to prevent and respond to attacks. The nomination seeks to fill a leadership vacancy that has persisted amid staffing cuts and other changes at the agency.

CISA has been without a permanent Senate-confirmed director since Jen Easterly departed in January 2025. Nick Andersen has led the agency in an acting capacity since February, following incidents tied to previous acting director Madhu Gottumukkala. A separate earlier nomination, Sean Plankey’s, stalled in the Senate and was withdrawn in April, according to CyberScoop. The reporting describes CISA as rebuilding after workforce reductions and nearly 22 months without a permanent director, leaving contractors and agency partners to plan amid continued leadership uncertainty.

LoSapio has served as Palantir’s CISO since September 2024 and previously led the company’s infrastructure and network security group, beginning in December 2017. His career at Palantir also includes work as a systems engineer from 2013 to 2016, followed by more than a year at database company SingleStore before he returned to Palantir. His experience in corporate security is relevant to the leadership role, but the sources do not identify a new CISA requirement, solicitation, award, or other near-term procurement opportunity arising from the nomination.

The confirmation process faces a crowded Senate calendar, with lawmakers working to fund the government and approve defense legislation before year-end. If Republicans do not complete confirmation during the remaining session, consideration could move to the incoming Democratic majority; if the current Congress ends without a vote, Trump would have to nominate LoSapio again. His Palantir ties may invite scrutiny: Democratic lawmakers have questioned the company’s government contracts and handling of sensitive information, including whether its work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) enables surveillance of Americans. Palantir has denied conducting or enabling mass surveillance. For contractors, the practical signal is to monitor leadership, oversight, and agency-priority developments rather than treat the nomination as evidence of a procurement shift.

• Nomination: President Donald Trump selected Palantir CISO Michael LoSapio to lead CISA; Senate confirmation is not assured.
• Leadership gap: CISA has lacked a permanent Senate-confirmed director since Jen Easterly’s departure in January 2025.
• Acting leadership: Nick Andersen has led CISA in an acting capacity since February, after incidents tied to former acting director Madhu Gottumukkala.
• Confirmation constraints: A crowded Senate calendar and pending government-funding and defense legislation could delay consideration; an unconfirmed nominee may need to be resubmitted to the next Congress.
• Relevant experience: LoSapio became Palantir’s CISO in September 2024 and previously led its infrastructure and network security group beginning in December 2017.
• Oversight context: Democratic lawmakers have scrutinized Palantir’s government work and DHS role; the company denies conducting or enabling mass surveillance.
• CISA mission: The agency supports federal network defense and works with water, power, telecommunications, and other critical-infrastructure operators.
• Contractor action: Track confirmation, agency leadership, service reviews, staffing, and oversight signals; the reporting identifies no specific procurement action or opportunity.
• Prior nomination: CyberScoop reports that Sean Plankey’s earlier CISA director nomination stalled and was withdrawn in April.