The Trump administration has initiated the process of terminating approximately 130 personnel at the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) as part of a broader effort to reduce the federal workforce. These firings include employees dedicated to countering Chinese hacking threats to US infrastructure.
The dismissals of probationary employees within CISA are being executed under the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative. The number of terminations at CISA may exceed 130 as Trump political appointees continue to restructure the agency.
Not limited to CISA, the Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response has also laid off more than 10 employees involved in safeguarding power plants and energy infrastructure from cyber threats.
In response to inquiries about the terminations at CISA, a DHS official stated that the recent personnel actions will lead to approximately $50 million in savings for taxpayers and enhance accountability and efficiency within the department.
The official further explained that DHS component leads identified non-mission critical personnel in probationary status and are actively seeking out other redundant positions and offices that do not align with DHS’ mission.
However, concerns have been raised as some of the terminated CISA employees were reportedly working on statutorily mandated, fully funded programs, prompting questions about the rationale behind their dismissals.
Impacted CISA employees have been notified through memos citing conduct and performance issues as reasons for their termination. Nevertheless, at least some of the employees who received termination notices did not have any performance review concerns, according to sources familiar with the matter.
