People

CISA cancels CyberCorps summer internship hiring amid DHS shutdown

The reversal presents a major setback for students who had secured internships after months of confusion about their job outcomes.

Cybersecurity

Trump proposes cutting CISA election security program in FY27 budget

The move is part of $700 million in proposed program cuts, resulting in a net funding reduction of about $360 million. The budget also projects eliminating some 860 positions.

Policy

Trump’s FY27 budget proposes boosts and cuts to tech operations

Agencies like CISA, NIST and the IRS would see notable reductions in their budgets for next year, while programs at Energy and the VA would get additional financial support.

Cybersecurity

DHS drops investigation into former acting CISA chief’s failed polygraph exam

“We are pleased that the CISA personnel punished by previous DHS and CISA leadership for doing their jobs have been cleared of wrongdoing and invited back to work, as we demanded three months ago,” said a joint statement from Democratic Reps. Bennie Thompson and Eric Swalwell.

Cybersecurity

EU wants to support bedrock cyber vulnerability program, top official says

U.S. congressional staffers are also working on legislation to give CISA more oversight of the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures program after a contracting incident last April.

Cybersecurity

CISA, FBI have engaged with Stryker staff after cyberattack, official says

Industry groups are seeing a “steady state” of Iran-linked hacking activity but observers should still keep their eyes peeled, CISA’s Nick Andersen said.

People

Lawmakers seek watchdog probe into former acting CISA chief’s polygraph failures

A letter penned by House Democrats indicates CISA’s former acting director failed a second polygraph examination during his tenure.

Cybersecurity

CISA launches investigation into Stryker cyberattack

The hack arguably represents the most significant cyber incident linked to the recent Iran war.

People

Mullin’s appointment to lead DHS raises questions about future of CISA

Following months of turmoil, Kristi Noem’s exit leaves uncertainty around DHS’s cyber mission, after CISA faced hefty workforce cuts and still contends with a leadership vacuum.

Exclusive People

Trump’s CISA nominee said he left Coast Guard to address GOP hold

Sean Plankey confirmed the intent to Nextgov/FCW and said he’s “prepared to lead the nation’s cyber defense agency to protect the federal civilian networks and our nation’s critical infrastructure from physical and cyber attacks.”

People

Trump’s CISA nominee to exit Coast Guard role, but still in running to lead cyber agency

Sean Plankey has been serving in a Coast Guard advisory role for some months and is still set to be the nominee to lead CISA.

People

CISA appoints new acting cyber chief after recent leadership shakeups

Chris Butera is now serving as acting executive assistant director for CISA’s cybersecurity division, after its former occupant, Nick Andersen, stepped into the top leadership role at the cyber agency.

People

CISA acting director moved to new DHS role

Madhu Gottumukkala will be moved into a strategic implementation role in the Department of Homeland Security. Nick Andersen will take his place.

People

CISA CIO expected to leave agency after receiving transfer orders

Last month, the cyber agency’s acting director reportedly took steps to transfer Costello, but other political appointees blocked it.

Cybersecurity

Hackers are exploiting exposed Cisco products, Five Eyes intelligence agencies say

A Cisco threat intelligence report calls the cyberintruders “highly sophisticated” but stops short of naming any affiliation with a foreign nation.

Cybersecurity

CISA threat-hunting leader to depart for private sector role

Jermaine Roebuck announced his voluntary departure last week. The cyber agency has already lost a third of its workforce in the past year.

Cybersecurity

CISA to furlough most of its workforce under impending DHS shutdown

The shutdown would also slow ongoing revamps of a major cyber incident reporting rule that was signed into law in 2022, acting director Madhu Gottumukkala said this week.

People

CISA’s acting chief says 70 staff were reassigned to other DHS offices in last year

The cyberdefense agency in turn received some 30 employees from other DHS components, while a “handful” of CISA staffers were transferred to ICE, Madhu Gottumukkala told lawmakers.

Cybersecurity

CISA orders agencies to patch and replace end-of-life devices, citing active exploitation

The directive gives agencies three months to identify unsupported edge devices, a year to begin removing them and 18 months to eliminate them entirely.

Cybersecurity

AI info-sharing center is in development, CISA official says

CISA’s Nick Andersen told reporters that he didn’t know of a completion timeline, but talks were ongoing across government and industry.