Trump’s attack on former boss rattles U.S. cyber defenders

The Trump administration has been accused of attacking the cybersecurity agency CISA and its former director Chris Krebs, who was fired after the 2020 election. Employees at CISA feel demoralized and distracted by the administration’s actions, including a recent order to investigate Krebs for stating there was no widespread election fraud. The White House has downsized CISA multiple times in the past few months, prompting concerns about the agency’s ability to protect the country from foreign cyber threats and ransomware attacks. Trump’s targeting of Krebs and CISA is seen as politically motivated and an abuse of power. The agency’s workforce is being purged, and DHS is offering buyouts in an effort to cut costs. The cuts have raised concerns about the agency’s ability to defend critical infrastructure and respond to cybersecurity challenges. The situation has also sparked fears of a chilling effect on cybersecurity professionals who may feel pressured to withhold information that could upset the president. Despite these challenges, CISA employees remain committed to their mission of defending the country against cyber threats.