Trump taps Palantir security chief to run battered US cyber defense agency
Michael LoSapio could inherit a depleted workforce and a political headache or two, courtesy of his current employer
President Trump has nominated Palantir security chief Michael LoSapio to lead CISA, the civilian cyber defense agency that has been awaiting Senate confirmation for a director since January 2025. LoSapio has been with Palantir since 2013 and currently serves as the company's Chief Information Security Officer. He would move from securing Palantir's systems to overseeing the federal government's primary civilian cyber defense agency.
CISA's responsibilities include protecting federal civilian networks and collaborating with critical infrastructure operators. The agency has seen a significant reduction in staff, with more than 1,000 positions eliminated since Trump's return to the White House. LoSapio's confirmation could address the staffing challenges CISA currently faces, but questions remain about his potential financial ties to the company and the impact of recent controversies surrounding Palantir's government contracts.
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