The Department of Homeland Security has taken action regarding employees of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) who were involved in addressing misinformation. Some CISA employees have been placed on administrative leave as confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security. This decision comes as part of an effort to refocus CISA on its mission, particularly emphasizing election security.
In a statement to Scripps News, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin highlighted the need for CISA to evaluate its execution of the election security mission, with a specific focus on addressing mis-, dis-, and malinformation. This move aligns with the testimony of former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who mentioned the creation of a 'Disinformation Governance Board' to combat misinformation leading up to the 2022 midterm election.
The ongoing assessment by the agency includes a review of the work related to mis-, dis-, and malinformation, as well as foreign influence operations and disinformation. Personnel involved in these areas will remain on administrative leave during this evaluation period.
Reports indicate that the 'Disinformation Governance Board' was spearheaded by Undersecretary for Policy Rob Silvers, who co-chaired the board alongside principal deputy general counsel Jennifer Gaskill. Additionally, Nina Jankowicz, a former disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center, reportedly served as the executive director of the board.
