CISA Set to Publish Salt Typhoon Report During Senate Impasse

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) plans to release a previously withheld report addressing vulnerabilities in telecom infrastructure. This report is anticipated to reveal security shortcomings that purportedly facilitated a breach by Chinese hackers, potentially compromising communications involving high-profile individuals, including President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.

The criticism surrounding CISA intensified following its decision to withhold a 2022 report linked to the Salt Typhoon hack, which has drawn bipartisan anger among lawmakers. In a strategic move, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) imposed a hold on Trump’s nominee for CISA director, Sean Plankey, aiming to compel the agency to publish the overdue report. This decision underscores the escalating tension centered on CISA’s transparency regarding national cybersecurity threats.

CISA’s Director of Public Affairs, Marci McCarthy, indicated that the agency intends to release the report “with proper clearance,” asserting that CISA has consistently collaborated with telecom companies before, during, and after the Salt Typhoon incident. Following this declaration, the Senate Homeland Security Committee is expected to vote on Plankey’s nomination, which appears to have backing from both the private sector and Senate Republicans.

Despite McCarthy’s intentions, no specific timeline was provided regarding the report’s clearance, and inquiries concerning its release went unanswered. A representative from Wyden’s office reiterated that the senator would maintain his opposition to the nomination until the report is made public, further emphasizing the urgency for transparency.

Senator Wyden reinforced his position, stating, “I will not lift my hold on Mr. Plankey’s nomination until this report is public.” This assertion underscores the belief that CISA’s focus may lean more toward shielding telecom companies from scrutiny rather than fortifying defenses against foreign cyber threats, particularly from adversaries such as China.

While procedural holds can certainly impede nominations, Senate Republicans can still advance Plankey’s candidacy. Nonetheless, his confirmation has already encountered delays due to challenges in finalizing the FBI security clearance process, as well as ongoing scheduling conflicts between the White House and the Senate committee.

No date has been set for a full Senate vote on this nomination, creating uncertainty regarding whether CISA will establish a timeline for clearing the report. The agency’s capacity to act will also be within the context of ongoing budget constraints, which have led to significant staff reductions and potential funding cuts for fiscal year 2026, consequences of the Trump administration’s overarching cost-cutting measures.