Noem Warns of China's Cyber Threats, Criticizes CISA's Mission Drift
Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, has raised concerns about the US's cybersecurity landscape. She warned of persistent threats from China and criticized the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for straying from its core mission.
Noem highlighted China as the biggest cyber threat, with espionage campaigns targeting federal government systems and critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, details about the Senior Advisor role at CISA in early 2023 remain unclear.
CISA's election security work has suffered, with federal funding for the EI-ISAC terminated. CISA was established to bolster federal systems and support local authorities and businesses, but Noem suggested its 'secure by design' strategy was insufficient.
The Trump administration is reassessing CISA's work and introducing reforms. An 11-month extension was granted to MITRE's contract for managing the CVE and CWE programs, despite initial plans not to renew it. Noem announced that the administration will enforce security by design practices among technology providers.
Since January 2025, there have been cutbacks in federal cybersecurity functions. Around 300 personnel terminations and funding cuts for cybersecurity projects within CISA have been reported. Noem accused CISA of acting like 'the ministry of truth' by focusing on disinformation, rather than its original mission. Two top CISA officials involved in the Security by Design program also resigned earlier this year.
Kristi Noem's warnings about China's cyber threats and her criticism of CISA's focus highlight the need for a renewed emphasis on core cybersecurity functions. The Trump administration's reforms aim to strengthen these areas and ensure digital products have built-in security.
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