Senator Chris Murphy, a top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, criticized the Trump administration on Thursday for cutting funding to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), calling the reductions “illegal.” He argued the cuts, which focus on border security, violate congressional mandates on fund usage and leave the nation vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Murphy warned that CISA, already impacted by personnel cuts, could face a further $491 million reduction in fiscal 2026. Rep. Lauren Underwood, another Democratic lawmaker, echoed these concerns, calling the cuts a “death blow” to the agency’s cybersecurity efforts.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem defended the cuts, arguing that CISA would return to its core mission of protecting critical infrastructure and eliminating non-essential roles, including positions related to election security. However, Noem’s claims were met with skepticism from lawmakers, including Sen. Gary Peters, who questioned the specifics of the agency’s restructuring.
Noem also criticized CISA’s response to major cyber breaches and called for better cooperation with the private sector and intelligence agencies to strengthen cybersecurity defenses.
