The Senate on Monday afternoon confirmed Jen Easterly to be the next director of the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Easterly, w a former intelligence and cyber operator in the Army and head of Morgan Stanley’s [MS] cyber defenses, was confirmed by unanimous consent.
Easterly’s confirmation had been held up for nearly a month by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who had put a hold on the confirmation until Vice President Kamala Harris visited the southern border to view first hand immigration and border security challenges there. Harris visited the border in late June.
Brandon Wales has been the acting director of CISA since last November after then President Donald Trump ousted Christopher Krebs, the agency’s first Senate-confirmed director, because Krebs maintained that the 2021 presidential election was secure. Trump continues to make false claims that the election was rigged and stolen from him.
Prior to leading CISA, Wales was executive director of the agency. CISA’s website still lists him in that position.