The White House has proposed a $491 million budget cut to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), claiming the agency strayed from its core mission. The cut is positioned as a “refocusing” on CISA’s essential role in cyber defense, while eliminating waste and inefficiency. The White House argues that CISA became too involved in “weaponization” and overstepped its mandate, including the handling of misinformation and propaganda issues, which it said violated First Amendment rights.
According to documentation from the White House, the budget cut will eliminate offices and programs deemed duplicative or irrelevant to cybersecurity.
The proposal specifically targets external engagement offices such as international affairs, which were allegedly used for censorship purposes. The White House statement emphasized the need to refocus on critical systems protection, while removing inefficiencies associated with the agency’s broader scope.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem echoed this justification, suggesting that CISA had strayed from its founding mission. In her keynote at the RSA Conference, Noem clarified that CISA’s resources will be refocused on hands-on cyber defense, specifically targeting vulnerable federal, state, and local systems.
The reorientation aims to assist smaller businesses that often lack cybersecurity resources and expertise, returning CISA to its original function.
The proposal for budget cuts follows internal issues within CISA, including staff layoffs, last-minute contract renewals, and the cancellation of security vendor agreements. This turmoil has raised questions about the agency’s effectiveness and future direction. Despite the budget cuts, Noem assured that CISA would continue to exist, but would be redirected to address the immediate cybersecurity needs of the nation.
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