Trump Nominates Palantir Security Chief to Lead CISA

CISA, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for cybersecurity protections for government networks and critical infrastructure, including water systems, power grids and telecommunications. It has lacked a permanent director for nearly two years and has seen widespread layoffs and resignations under the Trump administration. Major breaches at the FBI, the Pentagon and DHS have also been reported over the past three months.

LoSapio has worked at Palantir since 2017. The company’s federal work has drawn scrutiny as its ties to the administration have grown. Common Dreams reported that Palantir supplied “mission-critical software infrastructure” for an artificial intelligence pilot program at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that has been linked to healthcare delays for seniors. Palantir’s Enhanced Leads Identification and Targeting for Enforcement system has also been used to identify people for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the source article. The company has received hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts while developing what the article describes as a “mega-database” containing Americans’ private taxpayer information.

NextGov reported that Trump may have to submit LoSapio’s nomination again after the new legislative session begins on January 3 if the Senate does not confirm him before the current session ends. Lawmakers are due to debate government funding and defense spending. A new Democratic Senate majority could examine LoSapio’s Palantir record, including the company’s work that lawmakers have sought to investigate.

An aide to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., told NPR that Wyden intends to renew questions about Palantir’s role in what the aide called the “Trump-Vance abuse of government data” when he becomes Finance Committee chairman. “If Palantir is not responsive next year, compulsory processes will be on the table,” the aide said.