Trump's proposed budget for CISA inadicates substantial layoffs and reduction of programs

Headline: Significant Budget Cuts Proposed for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in FY2026

In a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026, President Donald Trump has aimed to cut $495 million and nearly 30% of positions from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Paragraph 1 The proposed cuts will impact several key areas within CISA, including the Cybersecurity Division, the Integrated Operations Division, the Stakeholder Engagement Division, and the National Risk Management Center.

Paragraph 2 The Cybersecurity Division, which leads efforts to protect government networks and help defend critical infrastructure, will face an 18% funding cut of $216 million. This reduction will affect the division's ability to provide essential cybersecurity services to various partners.

Paragraph 3 The Integrated Operations Division, which coordinates CISA's distribution of support and services, will face a 20% funding cut of $46.2 million. This cut will impact the division's capacity to support state/local government partners, small- and medium-sized businesses, and critical infrastructure owners/operators.

Paragraph 4 The Stakeholder Engagement Division, which leads CISA's partnerships with critical infrastructure organizations, will lose $62.2 million, or 62% of its current funding. This cut will result in the elimination of teams that support advisory councils and international-affairs teams that liaise with foreign governments.

Paragraph 5 The National Risk Management Center, which analyzes and predicts threats to infrastructure, will lose $97.4 million, a 73% reduction. This cut will significantly impact the center's ability to carry out its mission.

Paragraph 6 The Cyber Defense Education and Training program at CISA will face a $45.4 million cut, with the administration suggesting that users can be directed to free resources. This cut will likely affect the quality and accessibility of training for cybersecurity professionals.

Paragraph 7 The budget would also slash funding for several of CISA's most significant programs, including the Joint Collaborative Environment, NRMC's critical infrastructure security planning activities, the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative, and cybersecurity services provided to the rest of the government. However, specific amounts for these cuts are not mentioned in the budget.

Paragraph 8 The budget would eliminate 1,083 positions at CISA, bringing the agency down to 2,649 positions. This reduction will affect the agency's capacity to respond to cyber threats and provide support to partners.

Paragraph 9 The budget would eliminate 301 currently vacant positions at CISA, including 83 in the Cybersecurity Division, 75 in the Integrated Operations Division, and 70 in the National Risk Management Center.

Paragraph 10 The budget would also eliminate 14 positions and $36.7 million of non-salary funding for CISA's election security mission, in line with the Trump administration's shutdown of this mission.

Paragraph 11 The budget includes the first official tallies of CISA employees leaving as part of the agency's Workforce Transition Program, including 119 people leaving the Cybersecurity Division, 23 leaving the Integrated Operations Division, and 87 leaving mission-support roles.

Paragraph 12 The vulnerability assessment program at CISA will lose $30.8 million, with the budget stating that this will allow CISA to prioritize the most critical vulnerabilities and focus on cost-effective solutions like collaborative partnerships and automated tools.

Paragraph 13 It's important to note that these proposed cuts will significantly impact CISA's ability to provide technical services to various partners, potentially leaving federal, state, and local partners more vulnerable to cyber threats and infrastructure disruptions. The full impact of these cuts remains to be seen, but it's clear that they will have a significant impact on the agency's ability to protect critical infrastructure.

Trump's proposed budget for CISA inadicates substantial layoffs and reduction of programs