Image Credentials: Image Title: Leadership Reshuffle at CISA as Senior Cyber Official Moves to White House. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: June 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) by Open Chronicle and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
The United States cybersecurity establishment is undergoing a significant leadership reshuffle after a senior official from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) was tapped for a key policy role at the White House.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Steve Casapulla, a leading infrastructure security executive at CISA, will serve on detail as the assistant national cyber director for policy within the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD). The move comes as the White House cyber office experiences a period of transition and internal restructuring.
Casapulla’s departure from CISA has triggered a series of changes across the agency’s leadership ranks. Scott Breor, currently an associate director overseeing security programs, is expected to assume responsibility for leading CISA’s Infrastructure Security Division. Meanwhile, Sean Haglund, an associate director within the Office of Bombing Prevention, will become acting deputy director of the division.
Additional personnel shifts are also underway. Chip Abernathy, who has worked in CISA’s Office of the Chief of Staff, is moving to the National Risk Management Center as acting assistant director. Officials indicated that new leadership appointments for CISA’s Strategy, Policy, and Plans office are expected to be announced in the coming days.
The reorganization follows the recent departure of Thomas Lind from his position as the ONCD’s top policy official. Alexandra Seymour, who served as a deputy policy leader within the office, also recently left her role, adding to the growing turnover inside the White House cyber team.
The Office of the National Cyber Director has reportedly been grappling with declining staff morale, with sources citing concerns over the office’s approach to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence policy under National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross. Government officials and industry experts have privately expressed frustration with the pace and direction of cyber-AI initiatives, prompting some employees to consider leaving.
Neither agency has publicly commented on the personnel changes. A CISA spokesperson said the agency does not discuss ongoing staffing matters, while the White House cyber office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Despite the leadership changes, CISA is preparing for a new phase of expansion after a challenging year marked by workforce reductions. Acting Director Nick Andersen recently told a private sector audience that the agency expects renewed growth and substantial investment in the months ahead.
Over the past year, CISA has experienced significant staffing losses as part of a broader Trump administration effort to streamline and restructure the agency through layoffs, voluntary buyouts, early retirements, and program reductions.
Andersen said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has identified the need for roughly 600 additional employees to strengthen the agency’s capabilities. CISA has already begun implementing an initial hiring plan to fill 329 mission-critical positions, with approximately 180 tentative job offers expected to be issued before the end of June.
The latest changes highlight the evolving landscape of U.S. cybersecurity policy as Washington seeks to balance internal reforms, workforce rebuilding, and the growing challenge of defending critical infrastructure against increasingly sophisticated digital threats.