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Shutdown at D.H.S. Extends to Cyber Agency, Adding to Setbacks
| USA | general | ✓ Verified - nytimes.com

Shutdown at D.H.S. Extends to Cyber Agency, Adding to Setbacks

#CISA #Cybersecurity #DHS shutdown #Trump administration #Workforce reduction #Cyber threats #Infrastructure security

📌 Key Takeaways

  • CISA has lost one-third of its workforce since January 2025
  • The agency operates without a Senate-confirmed leader
  • Trump administration has sought to dismantle election-related defenses at CISA
  • The staffing shortages leave critical infrastructure vulnerable to cyber threats

📖 Full Retelling

In Washington on February 22, 2026, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) faces severe operational challenges as the Department of Homeland Security shutdown extends to its cybersecurity arm, reducing its already diminished workforce of approximately 2,400 to fewer than 1,000 employees, with President Trump targeting the agency he established in his first term after it undermined his false claims about the 2020 election being rigged. The agency has navigated these cuts while effectively rudderless without a Senate-confirmed leader, resulting in a demoralized workforce concerned about their ability to defend against cyber threats. Lawmakers like Representative Bennie Thompson, a co-sponsor of the law that created CISA in 2018, have expressed concerns that losing a third of the workforce makes it impossible to accomplish the agency's mission, citing diminishing resources and institutional knowledge as additional problems. Since Trump's electoral victory in 2024, chaos has become routine at the agency, with employees reporting increased scrutiny, fear of reassignments, and speculation about reorganization. The turmoil has also affected Congress, where efforts to reauthorize a bipartisan cyber law have stalled due to Senator Rand Paul's objections related to censorship concerns, leaving critical infrastructure protection measures in limbo during the government shutdown.

🏷️ Themes

Government Shutdown, Cybersecurity, Political Targeting, Workforce Reduction

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Protection of computer systems from information disclosure, theft or damage

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Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

The shutdown at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) severely weakens U.S. national security by furloughing over 60% of its workforce during a period of heightened cyber threats. This crisis compounds existing problems like a leadership vacuum and major staff departures, leaving critical infrastructure more vulnerable to attack.

Context & Background

  • CISA was created in 2018 to defend national infrastructure from cyberattacks
  • The agency's workforce dropped from 3,400 to under 2,400 before the shutdown furloughed most staff
  • CISA has operated without a Senate-confirmed director for nearly a year
  • The agency has been a target of the Trump administration due to its role in election security

What Happens Next

Congress must still agree on a funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security to fully restore CISA operations. The stalled nomination of Sean Plankey to lead CISA remains unresolved, prolonging the leadership gap even if funding is restored.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many CISA employees are working during the shutdown?

Fewer than 1,000 employees are working, representing less than 40% of the already reduced workforce.

Why has CISA been without a Senate-confirmed director?

Sean Plankey's nomination has been blocked for nearly a year by senators concerned about DHS management.

What is the impact of the staff reductions on CISA's mission?

The agency warns it cannot fully accomplish its mission with such significant workforce losses, making critical infrastructure more vulnerable.

Original Source
Advertisement SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Supported by SKIP ADVERTISEMENT Shutdown at D.H.S. Extends to Cyber Agency, Adding to Setbacks The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has navigated staffing cuts without a Senate-confirmed leader. Employees have become demoralized and concerned about the agency’s ability to ward off threats. Listen to this article · 7:16 min Learn more Share full article By Adam Sella Reporting from Washington Feb. 22, 2026, 5:00 a.m. ET In his first term, President Trump established the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to defend the nation’s infrastructure against cyberattacks. In his second, he has taken aim at the agency. Mr. Trump has sought to chip away at major aspects of CISA, a target of his ire after it undercut his false claims that the 2020 election was rigged. He has dismantled its election-related defenses, and called last year for a “comprehensive evaluation of all of CISA’s activities.” The lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security, CISA’s parent agency, is only the latest setback, temporarily winnowing its already thinning ranks. In January 2025, CISA employed about 3,400 people. That number has dropped to below 2,400. The shutdown means employees are now furloughed, leaving fewer than 1,000 of them to continue working. The agency has navigated these cuts while being effectively rudderless without a Senate-confirmed leader. The result is a demoralized work force concerned about the agency’s ability to ward off threats, according to former agency officials. Lawmakers have shared those worries. “You just can’t lose a third of your work force and accomplish the mission and authorities that you have,” Representative Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi, said after an oversight hearing in late January. Mr. Thompson, a co-sponsor of the law that created CISA in 2018, also cited a lack of resources and diminishing institutional knowledge as causes of the agency’s woes. Marci McCarthy, CISA’s d...
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