Senator Markwayne Mullin, President Trump’s nominee for DHS secretary, declined during a Senate Homeland Security hearing to commit to restoring CISA’s workforce or reversing budget cuts enacted under outgoing secretary Kristi Noem. Lawmakers warned that reductions at CISA could weaken U.S. defenses ahead of potential cyberattacks tied to recent tensions with Iran, pointing to the alleged attack on medical device maker Stryker. #CISA #Stryker
Keypoints
- Markwayne Mullin declined to say whether he will restore CISA’s staff or budget cuts made under Kristi Noem.
- Kristi Noem cut CISA’s workforce by about one third and removed hundreds of millions from the agency’s budget.
- CISA faced program eliminations and leadership controversies after criticism over its handling of election integrity and foreign disinformation.
- Senators warned that recent U.S.-Iran tensions could trigger cyberattacks, citing the alleged Iranian-linked attack on Stryker.
- Mullin said recruiting the “best and brightest” is a priority but did not provide specific staffing commitments; his nomination is expected to advance to a full Senate vote.
Read More: https://therecord.media/dhs-mullin-pressed-on-restoring-cisa-staffing