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CISA's 2025 cuts: misinformation staff on leave, election security reduced

In February 2025 DHS placed CISA staff who worked on mis-, dis- and malinformation and election security on administrative leave while it reviewed the agency's election mission. Further cuts to election security funding and plans to shrink the workforce followed.

Feb 12, 2025
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Whose side it served: Republicans

Actions taken by the second Trump administration's DHS.

What the record shows

At her confirmation hearing, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said CISA had gotten 'far off-mission' and that its MDM work should be refocused. CyberScoop reported that several members of CISA's election security and MDM staff were placed on leave around Feb. 6-7, 2025, and DHS confirmed the move on Feb. 12. The same month, Attorney General Pam Bondi disbanded the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force. By April 2025 Axios reported CISA had cut election security funding, terminated contracts, and was preparing to cut up to one-third of its workforce. In March 2026, CISA became one of three agencies bound by the Missouri v. Biden consent decree.

In their words

“far off-mission”— DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, confirmation hearing, Jan. 2025 · source
“It's overwhelming for those medium and small-sized jurisdictions.”— Kim Wyman, former CISA election security lead · source
The other side

Former officials and Democrats warned the cuts would weaken support for state and local election offices, especially small ones. Supporters say the changes return CISA to its core cybersecurity mission after its MDM work drew constitutional challenges.

Sources

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