Members of Congress are urging a government watchdog to investigate the impact of staffing cuts at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on its operational capabilities. A letter signed by Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, requests the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess how CISA is safeguarding critical infrastructure following significant workforce reductions initiated during the Trump administration.
Since Trump took office, nearly 1,000 CISA employees have either been terminated or have left voluntarily. Despite this, acting director Nick Andersen announced plans earlier this year to hire 300 new employees to help “rebuild its workforce and address staffing gaps left by the layoffs and voluntary departures.” The letter emphasizes the urgent need for the GAO to evaluate how these staffing reductions and programmatic cuts have affected CISA’s ability to fulfill its mission, particularly as adversaries ramp up attacks on critical infrastructure.
The lawmakers expressed concern that the agency has lost nearly one-third of its workforce at a time when cyber threats are escalating. They noted that little information is available regarding the effects of these cuts and how the expertise that was lost is being compensated. Several key leaders within CISA have departed in the past year, including David Stern, who played a crucial role in a ransomware notification initiative.
While CISA has not commented on the letter, GAO spokesperson Sarah Kaczmarek confirmed receipt of the congressional request. The letter also highlights confusion surrounding the Trump administration’s plans, as the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget includes cuts that would eliminate nearly 900 additional positions and reduce CISA’s funding by over $700 million.
Concerns have been raised by numerous states and senior Congressional leaders about the potential negative impact of these cuts on municipal cybersecurity, especially with the upcoming November elections. Industry leaders have reported experiencing diminished responsiveness and support from CISA, indicating that staffing issues have disrupted the agency’s service delivery.
The letter also references recent advisories from CISA and the FBI regarding increased cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure, including an “active threat” utilizing AI-generated exploit scripts. CISA has been without a confirmed director since Jen Easterly’s departure at the end of the Biden administration, with Andersen currently serving in an acting capacity.
For further details, see the full report by The Record.
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