Rep. Andrew Gabarino Questions DHS Sec. Kristi Noem on CISA Reauthorization and Budget Cuts

CISA Reauthorization and Support

• 💡 Representative Gabarino, chairman of the subcommittee on cybersecurity infrastructure protection, confirms his subcommittee will hold a hearing on the renewal of CISA 2015, which expires in September.
• ✅ Secretary Noem explicitly states her support for the reauthorization of CISA 2015, calling it an incredibly important piece of legislation.

Cersia Rulemaking and Industry Concerns

• ⚠️ Gabarino expresses concern that the scope of the proposed Cersia rulemaking process has strayed from congressional intent, noting industry dissatisfaction.
• 💬 He inquires if CISA would consider an ex parte process to gather more industry comments and get the rulemaking back on track.
• 👍 Secretary Noem confirms the department would support an ex parte process, emphasizing the importance of private sector input for appropriate actions and incident response.

Workforce Reductions and Mission Impact

• 📌 Gabarino raises concerns about workforce reductions within CISA staff, referencing a letter sent on February 19th regarding staff firings, responsibilities, and titles.
• 📉 He expresses concern that reducing CISA's staff will hinder its mission to protect cybersecurity, especially given the growing threat landscape.
• 🤝 Secretary Noem commits to providing a response to the letter regarding staff reductions and their impact on CISA's mission.

CISA Budget Cuts and Strategic Focus

• 💰 Gabarino questions the administration's proposed $491 million reduction for CISA, noting that only $20 million of that was related to misinformation, leaving a significant ~17% cut.
• 🎯 Secretary Noem explains the reductions are focused on areas where CISA strayed from its mission, such as misinformation, malinformation, and censorship activities.
• 🛡️ She asserts that the cybersecurity side of CISA is strengthened, with plans to create new partnerships with private industries for efficiency and accountability.
• ⚠️ Noem highlights the alarming lack of information and solutions from CISA regarding the protection of critical infrastructure, citing threats like Volta Typhoon and the potential for China to disrupt water and electrical systems.