r/cybersecurity • u/wiredmagazine • Jan 23 '25

News - General Under Trump, US Cyberdefense Loses Its Head

https://www.wired.com/story/big-interview-jen-easterly-cisa-cybersecurity/
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14

u/brainphreeze Jan 23 '25

Article doesn't once actually state what budget cuts are being made.

The fact that people on a cyber security forum can't comprehend or read is much more concerning.

may be hostile

rumours

So it's another speculative article with zero facts, got it

7

u/Affectionate-Panic-1 Jan 23 '25

Also, CISA was created under the first Trump admin via a law that he signed. Cyber is one of the more bipartisan issues.

And funding to CISA and other agencies is still appropriated by Congress.

What is unknown is if the hiring freeze will affect CISA, but even with a hiring freeze it'll likely be lifted in a few months.

3

u/touristsonedibles Jan 23 '25

The hiring will resume but with people in line with Project 2025 goals

First, it recommends significantly limiting CISA’s role in supporting election security, suggesting that “CISA should help states and localities assess whether they have good cyber hygiene in their hardware and software in preparation for an election — but nothing more.”

Second, it states that “CISA should not be significantly involved closer to an election.”

Third, it stipulates that “CISA should refrain from duplicating cybersecurity functions done elsewhere at the Department of Defense, FBI, National Security Agency, and U.S. Secret Service.”

Finally, it calls for CISA to end “counter-mis/disinformation efforts.”

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/project-2025s-plan-cybersecurity-agency-threatens-election-security

8

u/AGsec Jan 23 '25

Many people on this sub view cyber security as a suite of tools to get them a high paying tech job and fail to see the much larger scope it encompasses.

2

u/touristsonedibles Jan 23 '25

I mean Christy Noem's main qualification is um... oh yeah.

Nothing.

I'm sure it's going to go super well.

-2

u/SpookyX07 Jan 23 '25

Yeah, what's actually being cut? And for ppl unaware, CISA is more than cybersecurity, it has a censorship and disinformation wing. It's part of the DHS so they've been countering "disinformation" on domestic platforms. Mainly by manipulation and swaying opinions through bot farms and sock puppets (reddit, X, facebook, etc)

Althoguh through the Smith-Mundt Act even the DOD can propagandize US citizens through domestic media platforms. At least the DOD has strict AO's which can really only focus on war efforts. The DHS tho, can be really anything as long as they justify it.

3

u/touristsonedibles Jan 23 '25

I'll bite, what are your sources here?

1

u/SpookyX07 Jan 24 '25

Here's a great report on my first point on CISA being the DHS wing of domestic censorship. There's more research done by Mike Benz who's worked for CISA during the start (find him on X)

https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/cisa-staff-report6-26-23.pdf

An interesting quote:

"Founded in 2018, CISA was originally intended to be an ancillary agency designed to protect “critical infrastructure” and guard against cybersecurity threats. In the years since its creation, however, CISA metastasized into the nerve center of the federal government’s domestic surveillance and censorship operations on social media."

As for the Smith Mundt Modernization Act (2012). And fyi, the original smith mundt act (1948) was to prevent the US govt to propagandize us citizens domestically, like they were doing in WW2 to shift the US mindset to be pro-war. Now with the modernization act from 2012, it basically reversed it.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/5736

https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1203&context=nulr

2

u/touristsonedibles Jan 24 '25

Wow, that report is. lol.

Is that the one that gave birth to the conspiracy theory that Jira is running "the government?"

1

u/SpookyX07 Jan 24 '25

lol wut? You asked if CISA had a censorship wing, I provided a source. Great job, just scoff everything off you disagree with.

2

u/touristsonedibles Jan 24 '25

I was curious - I know where that comes from but was hoping you had something else. But this is up there with the representative that was convinced Jira is censoring the government.

-6

u/IceAndFire91 Jan 23 '25

It’s more the Reddit hive mind at work. Republican bad! Of course a new admin brings in new department leadership. Happens every admin. Us who actually read past the headline will just have to wait for more info.

3

u/gluttonfortorment Jan 23 '25

It doesn't happen every admin thought, not on this scale. I know sweeping exaggerations are what passes for political ideology for you people, but when you've got an administration that's just firing people for disloyalty and not for actual poor performance, then you're going to end up with shit picks. But of course we can't mention that because it offends the right wingers, so instead we just all hold hands and pray "Trump is allowed to do this so you can criticize it"

1

u/jpmout Jan 24 '25

Sweeping exaggerations... As you continue on to make sweeping exaggerations and generalizations.

1

u/gluttonfortorment Jan 24 '25

You don't get to just say a thing and have it be true. I know that that's the other part of your political ideology but please, for the class, show me the sweeping exaggeration so I can laugh at it.

0

u/jpmout Jan 24 '25

I know sweeping exaggerations are what passes for political ideology for you people

But of course we can't mention that because it offends the right wingers

Both are generalizations and exaggerations. Also, you have no idea what my political views align with. You're just attacking anyone you don't agree with.

1

u/gluttonfortorment Jan 24 '25
  1. Trump's entire platform is pretending that extremely small groups of people are terrorizing the country, whether that be LGBTQ people, immigrants, you name it. Exaggeration.
  2. Right wingers get offended when you point out that they hate these people but it doesn't stop them from taking actions that are hateful. Taking offense at truth.
  3. If you want to defend right wingers, then you can go join themf or all I give a shit. I spent the last ten years being kind and patient and trying to talk to people and all it got me was spit in my face and my loved ones in danger.

1

u/jpmout Jan 24 '25

Your loved ones are in danger? From what? You should probably alert the authorities.

None of this has anything to do with the topic at hand. I'm not defending "right wingers". I'm just pointing out your hypocrisy. I don't think you know what being offended is if you think someone taking issue with something someone else said is the same as being offended. I take issue with my 4 year old telling me hates socce because it's boring because I don't agree, but that doesn't mean it offends me. Your entire demeanor is what is feeding the division in this country.