Congressional officials wonder how CISA can carry out core mission in face of workforce cuts | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"Staffers on the House Committee on Homeland Security indicate that workforce challenges, both within government and the private sector, demand immediate attention.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-workforce-cuts-concerns-cybersecurity-panel-rsac-2025\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Congressional officials wonder how CISA can carry out core mission in face of workforce cuts\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Staffers on the House Committee on Homeland Security indicate that workforce challenges, both within government and the private sector, demand immediate attention.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-workforce-cuts-concerns-cybersecurity-panel-rsac-2025\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cyberscoop\/\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-30T20:30:04+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-30T20:30:07+00:00\"> <meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.webp\"> <meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\"> <meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1024\"> <meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\"> <meta name=\"author\" content=\"Greg Otto\"> <meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\"> <meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gregotto\"> <meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@CyberScoopNews\">  <link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/securepubads.g.doubleclick.net\">\n<link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/use.typekit.net\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/feed\/\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Comments Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/comments\/feed\/\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-includes\/css\/dist\/block-library\/style.min.css?m=1746037419g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/mu-plugins\/search\/elasticpress\/dist\/css\/related-posts-block-styles.min.css?m=1745433273g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/themes\/scoopnewsgroup\/dist\/css\/frontend.css?m=1740691656g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\">\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"typekit-css\" href=\"https:\/\/use.typekit.net\/itk2qbh.css?ver=a815169637cf454b7376\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"https:\/\/api.w.org\/\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/\"><link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"JSON\" type=\"application\/json\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84374\"><link rel=\"EditURI\" type=\"application\/rsd+xml\" title=\"RSD\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/xmlrpc.php?rsd\">\n<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"WordPress 6.8.1\">\n<link rel=\"shortlink\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=84374\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (JSON)\" type=\"application\/json+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Fcisa-workforce-cuts-concerns-cybersecurity-panel-rsac-2025%2F\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (XML)\" type=\"text\/xml+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Fcisa-workforce-cuts-concerns-cybersecurity-panel-rsac-2025%2F&format=xml\">   <link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=32\" sizes=\"32x32\">\n<link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=192\" sizes=\"192x192\">\n<link rel=\"apple-touch-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=180\">\n<meta name=\"msapplication-TileImage\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"wp-singular post-template-default single single-post postid-84374 single-format-standard wp-theme-scoopnewsgroup wp-child-theme-cyberscoop\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-workforce-cuts-concerns-cybersecurity-panel-rsac-2025\/#main\" class=\"skip-to-content-link visually-hidden-focusable\">Skip to main content<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--event js-stickybar\">\n<div class=\"stickybar__details\" readability=\"4.9180327868852\">\n<div class=\"stickybar__info js-sticky-bar-content\" readability=\"32\">\n<p>Voting is open for the 2025 CyberScoop 50 awards!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <a class=\"stickybar__link button button-tertiary\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cyberscoop50\/\">Click here!<\/a> <\/div>\n<p> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"26.383547008547\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"36.391982182628\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-workforce-cuts-concerns-cybersecurity-panel-rsac-2025\/\"> <span>Government<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Staffers on the House Committee on Homeland Security indicate that workforce challenges, both within government and the private sector, demand immediate attention. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/84374\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.jpg?resize=640%2C341&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt=\"CISA, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, RSA 2019, DHS patching\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.webp 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.webp?resize=300,160 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.webp?resize=768,410 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.webp?resize=1024,546 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.webp?resize=1536,819 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.webp?resize=600,320 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.webp?resize=1200,640 1200w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts.webp?resize=1500,800 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><figcaption> (Scoop News Group) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"43.402003186888\"><body readability=\"89.471859162443\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>SAN FRANCISCO <\/strong>\u2013 In her appearance at the RSAC 2025 Conference, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke about getting CISA back to its \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/kristi-noem-rsac-2025-cisa-mission\/\">core mission<\/a>\u201d of protecting federal networks and critical infrastructure from cybersecurity threats. <\/p>\n<p>Other cyber policy experts wonder how that is going to unfold with such concentration on cutting CISA\u2019s workforce. <\/p>\n<p>Congressional staffers and cybersecurity policy experts expressed deep concern about CISA during a panel discussion at the conference, with particular attention given to the agency\u2019s ongoing staffing reductions.<\/p>\n<p>The comments came during a bigger discussion about efforts to build and retain a qualified cyber workforce in the face of growing threats, budget constraints and political turbulence that the panel said threatens to further erode government cyber readiness.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Moira Bergin, minority staff director at the House Homeland Security Committee, called the retention of CISA personnel the committee\u2019s \u201ctop priority,\u201d expressing concerns that the cuts over the first 100 days of the Trump administration could lead to the loss of institutional knowledge that has helped the cyber agency grow since its inception. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t want to lose any more workforce, we don\u2019t want to lose any more authorities, we don\u2019t want to lose any more programs,\u201d Bergin said. <\/p>\n<p>Bergin also noted that CISA\u2019s expansion has not come from excessive federal spending, but rather from the agency\u2019s ongoing efforts to define and apply its mission since its creation in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur view is that CISA has grown in a constructive way and has grown in a way that meets demand,\u201d she said. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t started programs for program\u2019s sake, but rather programs have been initiated either in response to threat actors, in response to vulnerabilities that we\u2019ve seen in software, in response to demand from their stakeholders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She further signaled that the committee is conducting oversight into which programs are being affected, what contracts are being cut, and how these moves will impact the nation\u2019s resilience to attacks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Alexandra Seymour, staff director for the committee\u2019s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection subcommittee, stressed that on the whole, workforce development is a top priority for the 119th Congress. Seymour outlined legislative efforts such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/exclusive-house-homeland-security-chair-releases-pushes-forth-cyber-workforce-bill\/\">PIVOTT Act<\/a>, designed to rapidly train individuals through two-year programs at technical schools and community colleges, incorporating skills-based exercises and internships. <\/p>\n<p>According to Seymour, the intent is to \u201ctrain people quickly and at scale,\u201d aiming for hands-on experience and subsequent placements in government service.<\/p>\n<p>Seymour emphasized efforts by committee chairman Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., to get the bill to become law, especially given the estimates of over 500,000 open cybersecurity positions nationwide. Seymour described an acute challenge in recruiting talent across federal, state, and local governments \u2014 a gap felt most sharply in regions responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe reason that that is really important to the chairman is that he thinks [regional talent] is the root of a lot of the issues that we see in cyberspace,\u201d Seymour said. \u201cWhen you don\u2019t have the right people with the right skills in the right places, it\u2019s really hard to be able to address these threats that are evolving really rapidly, that are growing in sophistication and in number.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite these efforts, Seymour acknowledged persistent challenges: \u201cWe know that it\u2019s a really big challenge. We\u2019re hopeful that we can really drive something forward. \u2026 But there\u2019s still a lot of work to do in that space.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"3.5622083981337\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"14\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Greg Otto\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Greg Otto<\/h4>\n<p> Greg Otto is Editor-in-Chief of CyberScoop, overseeing all editorial content for the website. Greg has led cybersecurity coverage that has won various awards, including accolades from the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Society of Business Publication Editors. Prior to joining Scoop News Group, Greg worked for the Washington Business Journal, U.S. News & World Report and WTOP Radio. He has a degree in broadcast journalism from Temple University. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/cisa-workforce-cuts-concerns-cybersecurity-panel-rsac-2025\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Congressional officials wonder how CISA can carry out core mission<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[452,293,117,1093,506],"tags":[454,299,119,1095,507],"class_list":["post-7596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa","category-department-of-homeland-security-dhs","category-government","category-house-homeland-security-committee","category-workforce","tag-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa","tag-department-of-homeland-security-dhs","tag-government","tag-house-homeland-security-committee","tag-workforce"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/department-of-homeland-security-dhs\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Department of Homeland Security (DHS)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/government\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Government<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/house-homeland-security-committee\/\" rel=\"category tag\">House Homeland Security Committee<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/workforce\/\" rel=\"category tag\">workforce<\/a>","tag_info":"workforce","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7596"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7596\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":7596,"date":"2025-04-30T15:30:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T20:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=84374"},"modified":"2025-04-30T15:30:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T20:30:04","slug":"congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2025\/04\/30\/congressional-officials-wonder-how-cisa-can-carry-out-core-mission-in-face-of-workforce-cuts\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressional officials wonder how CISA can carry out core mission in face of workforce cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"