Chris Krebs, the former leader of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), expressed his outrage regarding the Trump administration’s cuts to cybersecurity personnel and programs during a speech at the RSA Conference in San Francisco. These comments marked his first public response since President Trump directed the Justice Department to investigate him for affirming the integrity of the 2020 election.
Krebs emphasized that cybersecurity is integral to national security, criticizing the administration for its repeated reductions in cybersecurity staff and resources. He highlighted recent cuts to CISA, including the elimination of probationary employees and advisory committees, as well as encouragement for retirement among current staff. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CISA, confirmed these personnel reductions but did not comment on Krebs’ remarks.
Amid ongoing cyber threats linked to major hacking campaigns from China, Krebs argued that the country should invest more in cybersecurity staffing, rather than downsizing. He called for an increase in Cyber Command personnel, NSA intelligence collection agents, and front-line defenders, asserting that these positions are critical given the challenges posed by threats like “Volt Typhoon” and “Salt Typhoon.”
Krebs remains a respected figure within both CISA and the cybersecurity industry. Following Trump’s actions against him, including the revocation of his security clearances at SentinelOne, the Electronic Frontier Foundation issued an open letter defending Krebs, garnering some support from industry leaders, although many have been reluctant to speak out due to potential repercussions from the administration. Katie Moussouris, CEO of Luta Security, noted that while there is widespread support for Krebs, industry professionals are cautious about vocalizing their opinions officially.
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