Mullin Says CISA Could Operate With 2,800 Staff as Funding Debate Continues
Summary
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Congress CISA could operate with 2,800 staff, compared with about 2,200 now. Proposed fiscal 2027 cuts, state and local support, and the agency's vacant director position remain under debate.
Key points
- Mullin said CISA could operate with 2,800 personnel; he put current staffing at about 2,200, down from 3,400 before the second Trump administration.
- The Trump administration has proposed hundreds of millions of dollars in additional CISA cuts for fiscal 2027.
- House committee members raised concerns about potential effects on CISA education programs and support for states.
- Mullin said CISA would rely more on public partnerships and grants to work with state and local governments.
- No administration proposal has shifted former CISA funding to state governments, while state officials say cuts have made their work harder.
- The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program has not been permanently reauthorized and is due to expire again in September.
- CISA has lacked a Senate-confirmed director during the second Trump administration; Mullin said a nominee would be named soon.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Debate over CISA staffing levels and proposed federal budget cuts.
- Impact
- Markwayne Mullin said CISA would ideally have 2,800 personnel, compared with about 2,200 currently and 3,400 before the second Trump administration began. Proposed fiscal 2027 cuts have raised congressional concerns about effects on education programs and support for state and local governments. State officials say CISA budget cuts have made their work harder; the article reports no proposal to transfer former CISA funding to state governments.
People
Andrew GarbarinoHouse Homeland Security Committee chairman who questioned Mullin about proposed CISA budget cuts, staffing, and possible effects on education programs.Donald TrumpPresident who has pushed to reduce CISA personnel and proposed additional cuts for fiscal 2027.Markwayne MullinDHS Secretary who told Congress CISA would ideally have 2,800 personnel and discussed relying on public partnerships and state and local grants.Nick AndersenActing CISA director who said in March that the agency was looking to hire 300 people.
Industries
CybersecurityLawmakers and experts are also concerned about reduced funding, the lack of a Senate-confirmed CISA director, and whether cybersecurity responsibilities should be shifted more heavily to states and local governments.GovernmentMullin said DHS funding lapses have made the department rethink CISA, although the deep CISA personnel reductions predate the recent spate of government shutdowns.