Kristi Noem's promises to build out the nation's cyber strategy have gone stale
Source: Politico
10/23/2025 05:30 AM EDT
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem promised to prioritize a “comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to cybersecurity.” But over the last nine months, a key cybersecurity agency under Noem’s command has had its staffing slashed by more than a third, axed funding for election security programs and scaled back its support to state and local governments to protect against cyber threats.
“There’s a real disconnect between the public messaging about cybersecurity and the reality on the ground,” said an employee of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is housed under DHS. This person, like others interviewed for this article, was granted anonymity for fear of retribution.
Lawmakers and those within the cyber community who work closely with CISA to defend the nation’s critical infrastructure from hackers say the Trump administration’s cutbacks have weakened our cyber defenses, particularly as adversaries such as China and Russia have intensified their assaults on U.S. networks.
“The administration keeps undermining CISA, which serves at the forefront to defend our infrastructure and private sector from cyberattacks,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), chair of the House Armed Services Committee’s cyber subcommittee and a frequent critic of the Trump administration’s policies. “Our vulnerability to our adversaries’ cyberattacks grows and we have handicapped ourselves in defending against these attacks.”
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/23/kristi-noem-cybersecurity-strategy-concerns-cisa-00619108
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