Cybersecurity experts have expressed concern regarding the Trump administration's decision to reduce the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA's) workforce, particularly those focused on election security, reports SC Media.
The recent layoffs were noted by Adaptiva CEO Deepak Kumar to adversely affect national cybersecurity readiness in the long-term.
"The gradual and progressive degradation of back-end infrastructure will take longer to manifest, but when it does, it will be more profound and lasting," said Kumar.
Health ISAC President Denise Anderson shared similar sentiments, but emphasized the industry's role to continue upholding cybersecurity amid the CISA rollbacks while expecting the Center for Internet Security's continued support for the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center initiative that could take up CISA's mantle in defending against election cybersecurity threats.
President Trump's cutbacks have also prompted some former CISA employees to establish their own cybersecurity firms, according to Chaz Spahn, director of product management at Adaptiva. "CISA alumni are well-known experts in the industry — when they speak up, people listen," Spahn added.
