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CISA Plans Significant Workforce Reductions Amid Concerns
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is preparing to implement major workforce reductions in the near future, which will likely impact various divisions within the agency, including substantial cuts to its contracting teams. Sources familiar with the situation report that all units of CISA, part of the Department of Homeland Security, could be affected.
According to insiders, the agency plans to issue reduction-in-force (RIF) notices next week, along with offers for employees to accept deferred resignations. RIFs provide formal notification of layoffs while allowing affected federal employees additional options in light of large-scale terminations.
Reports suggest that CISA is considering the termination of all threat-hunting contracts with private-sector partners, with some contracts already being cut. The projected reductions may potentially impact approximately 1,300 individuals, extending the scope of layoffs beyond previous focus areas such as election security and disinformation, encompassing staff engaged in threat hunting and vulnerability management.
One source indicated that there are no plans to allocate additional funds to the private sector to bridge the gaps left by the workforce reductions within CISA. This agency is responsible for safeguarding numerous critical infrastructure sectors identified by the U.S. government, which include transportation, nuclear energy facilities, and electoral systems.
It is expected that staff members from CISA’s administrative division, who play roles in various offices within the agency, will also receive RIF notifications. Furthermore, one source mentioned that cuts to a specific mission support office may result in a reduction of about 90%, severely limiting staffing for daily operations.
Mark Montgomery, head of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, expressed significant concern, stating that these personnel cuts are detrimental to national security, resulting in daily harm that transcends mere operational disruption. He emphasized that this initiative undermines essential public-private partnerships, deemed crucial for a robust cybersecurity defense.
These anticipated reductions at CISA were initially highlighted by CBS News. An insider remarked to Nextgov/FCW that the scale of the cuts exceeded expectations, raising doubts about the agency’s ability to fulfill its critical missions.
Top administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have committed to downsizing CISA, responding to criticisms that the agency’s initiatives regarding online disinformation disproportionately targeted conservative voices. However, it appears that the proposed reductions extend beyond those particular functions within the agency.
A CISA spokesperson declined to comment on the unfolding developments when approached for insights.
Last month, the agency sought to reach out to employees impacted by layoffs due to a federal court ruling mandating reinstatement for workers previously terminated under questionable circumstances across multiple agencies.
In a broader context, the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has maintained a close watch on CISA. Notably, a young staffer from DOGE was granted access to CISA facilities earlier this year, raising eyebrows regarding security protocols.
Established in November 2018 through legislation signed by President Trump, CISA was formed by transitioning the National Protection and Programs Directorate into a body with enhanced authority to address cybersecurity and infrastructure threats. The agency’s inaugural director, Chris Krebs, was dismissed by Trump after affirming the 2020 presidential election’s security.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and leading up to the 2020 election, CISA regularly collaborated with social media platforms to mitigate misinformation stemming from foreign adversaries and domestic entities. However, exchanges have diminished following a lawsuit from Missouri in July 2023, which claimed that the Biden administration’s actions to flag disinformation infringed upon First Amendment rights.
In response to ongoing concerns about censorship, Noem proposed a comprehensive reassessment of CISA’s funding strategies even prior to her formal confirmation as DHS leader. She articulated the need for CISA to enhance its effectiveness, suggesting that the agency should streamline its focus away from regulating misinformation online.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not provide immediate feedback regarding the situation.
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