New US administration has moved to terminate all memberships on advisory committees associated with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), signaling a shift in how the department handles external guidance. Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine C. Huffman issued a memo on January 20, 2025, stating that the termination of these memberships is in line with the department’s efforts to eliminate misuse of resources and prioritize national security. The memo emphasized that future committee activities would solely focus on advancing the department’s critical mission of protecting the homeland and supporting strategic priorities.
One significant casualty of this decision is the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which is part of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
The CSRB, established as a public-private initiative, has provided in-depth reports on cybersecurity issues, including the vulnerabilities associated with the Log4j flaw and the breach involving Microsoft’s infrastructure, attributed to the China-based Storm-0558 group. The board was also instrumental in scrutinizing the LAPSUS$ cybercrime group and its ability to exploit advanced cyber tactics. It is unclear how the CSRB will be restructured or what its future role will be in the wake of these cuts.
The disbanding of the advisory boards extends beyond the CSRB. Other important boards such as the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board, the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council, and the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee have also been dissolved. This move has sparked concern, particularly in the context of ongoing investigations, such as those into recent cyberattacks targeting telecom providers, which are believed to be linked to the Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon. The elimination of these boards raises questions about the future direction of cybersecurity and infrastructure policies in the U.S.
Critics have voiced their concerns about the broader implications of the decision, with some speculating that it could be a politically motivated move. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden suggested that the disbandment of these boards might be retaliation for the pressure the CSRB placed on Microsoft to improve its cybersecurity practices. Additionally, President Trump has revoked the Biden administration’s executive order on artificial intelligence safety, further heightening the sense that the new administration is taking a more aggressive stance on reshaping U.S. policies in technology and security.
