Government Shutdown Triggers Permanent Downsizing at CISA
WASHINGTON — The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is among the federal entities facing definitive reductions due to the protracted partial government shutdown, as corroborated by sources at The Post.
The initiated reductions in force (RIFs), which commenced on Friday, will affect a portion of CISA’s workforce of 2,540 employees, as well as thousands more throughout various federal bureaucracies.
This action follows President Trump’s threats to dismantle agencies favored by Democrats should Senate negotiations falter in reopening the government.
Indications of substantial layoffs emerged as CISA announced its contingency plan to maintain only 889 employees during the shutdown, while furloughing approximately 65% of its personnel.
Federal budget director Russ Vought initiated the downsizing on Friday. AFP via Getty Images
CISA, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, was previously directed by Chris Krebs during Trump’s initial tenure, where it openly repudiated the former President’s claims of electoral fraud in the 2020 election.
The agency termed mail-in voting, contrary to Trump’s objections, as “the most secure in American history.”
One insider reportedly described CISA’s output as “disinformation,” diverting attention from critical vulnerabilities.
As the shutdown persists, an estimated 750,000 federal employees are being furloughed daily, contributing to the massive scope of potential irreversible layoffs advocated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Overall, roughly 2 million individuals are employed within the federal government, excluding military personnel and Postal Service workers.
Chris Krebs, former head of CISA during the Trump administration. Getty Images
A secondary source revealed that several departments are experiencing significant job cuts, marking the 10th day of the ongoing shutdown.
In the midst of this crisis, Senate Democrats are attempting to leverage the stalemate to extend healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are poised to expire on December 31, affecting approximately 22 million individuals.
While some Republicans express support for an extension, party leaders insist that a temporary funding measure be passed prior to any healthcare negotiations.
Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to a Democratic proposal aiming to reinstate nearly $200 billion in subsidies over a decade for asylum seekers and healthcare reimbursements associated with undocumented immigrants.
White House budget director Russ Vought confirmed on Friday that the systematic job reductions have commenced at federal agencies following another blockade by Senate Democrats against reopening the government, with only three Democrats aligning with Republicans in the upper chamber.
“The RIFs have begun,” Vought announced via Twitter.
Source link: Nypost.com.
