The Department of Homeland Security, where CISA is housed, recently expanded its voluntary departure program to include early retirement and, in some cases, a buyout, dangling a lump sum payment of up to $25,000 to employees in roles slated for voluntary departures, according to an April 7 memo seen by Recorded Future News. In addition to the NRMC, CISA’s Stakeholder Engagement Division (SED), which coordinates how government agencies, private companies and nonprofits execute their roles protecting specific aspects of critical infrastructure, is also being eyed for cuts, according to two sources with knowledge of the current thinking. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is firming up plans to slash staffing and spending in the coming days amid increased scrutiny from the White House, which is still chafing over what it sees as CISA’s role in suppressing conservative viewpoints. The agency’s National Risk Management Center (NRMC), which serves as a hub analyzing risks to cyber and critical infrastructure, is expected to see significant cuts, said two sources familiar with the plans. The agency is looking to remove some 1,300 people by cutting about half its full-time staff and another 40 percent of its contractors, a source with direct knowledge of the developing plans told Recorded Future News. On Wednesday, the president issued a memorandum that includes “a comprehensive evaluation of all of CISA’s activities over the last 6 years” and revoked the security clearances held by the agency’s first director, Chris Krebs. The cuts being made appear to be uninformed and haphazard, said Marc Rogers, a cybersecurity expert who frequently works with CISA. The CISA threat hunting team will be cut but not eliminated, two sources familiar with the administration’s current plans said. Rand Paul (R-KY), who chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has said he wants to eliminate the agency over what he’s called its censorship of conservative viewpoints.
This Cyber News was published on therecord.media. Publication date: Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:25:17 +0000