US Government Shutdown Cuts Cybersecurity Staff
▼ Summary
– The US government shutdown will furlough 65% of CISA’s workforce (1,651 employees), severely reducing federal cybersecurity capabilities despite DHS retaining 91% of its overall staff.
– CISA’s website and operations will be inactive during the shutdown, halting updates, threat alerts, and support for programs like the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) initiative.
– NIST will retain only 34% of its workforce, disrupting the development and maintenance of critical cybersecurity standards, including its Cybersecurity Framework and Post Quantum Cryptography Standards.
– Cybersecurity experts warn of increased attacks from cybercriminals and nation-state actors, targeting critical infrastructure, exploiting vulnerabilities, and using social engineering against furloughed workers.
– The shutdown’s effects will extend beyond its duration, causing project delays, piled-up IT work, and long-term cybersecurity setbacks due to funding pauses and reprioritization of immediate fixes.
The ongoing US government shutdown is creating serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities by drastically reducing staffing at key federal agencies. With the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) losing approximately 65% of its personnel, the nation’s digital defense capabilities face unprecedented strain. An official Department of Homeland Security document reveals that out of CISA’s 2,540 employees, about 1,651 will be placed on furlough, leaving only 889 staff members to handle critical security operations. This severe reduction occurs even though DHS overall expects to retain 91% of its workforce during the funding lapse.
CISA plays a vital role in protecting federal networks and collaborates extensively with state governments, private sector organizations, and international partners. The agency manages essential programs including the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database, which catalogs publicly disclosed security weaknesses. No specific information has been released regarding which positions will be affected by the furloughs. Meanwhile, CISA’s website now displays a notice explaining it won’t be updated until Congress passes funding legislation, potentially leaving visitors with outdated security information and unable to process transactions or respond to inquiries.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology faces similar challenges, with its shutdown plan indicating only 34% of staff will remain active. NIST develops crucial cybersecurity standards used worldwide, including the Cybersecurity Framework and Post Quantum Cryptography Standards. Like CISA, NIST’s website carries a notice about the appropriations lapse and won’t be updated during the shutdown period.
Security experts express grave concerns that these staffing reductions create dangerous opportunities for cybercriminals and nation-state actors. The government’s capacity to respond to network attacks and patch critical vulnerabilities becomes severely limited. Federal agencies may need to suspend contracts with cybersecurity vendors, while businesses and local governments will miss vital threat notifications and security recommendations from CISA and NIST.
Brandon Potter, Chief Technology Officer at ProCircular, anticipates increased ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure, though attackers might shift tactics toward data theft and extortion to heighten political tensions. Nation-state actors will likely use this period to deepen their network penetration and establish multiple persistence mechanisms. Potter also warns that furloughed federal employees face elevated risks from credential phishing attacks targeting both work and personal accounts as they navigate HR and benefits websites during the shutdown.
The cybersecurity consequences will extend well beyond the shutdown’s duration according to Gary Barlet, Public Sector CTO at Illumio. When funding resumes, IT systems won’t simply reactivate—accumulated work, stalled projects, and disrupted timelines will create lingering vulnerabilities. Longer-term security initiatives will likely be deprioritized as staff focus on immediate operational needs.
The shutdown began October 1st after Congressional disagreements prevented passage of a spending bill. White House officials warned that federal workers could face layoffs within days, while the Congressional Budget Office estimates 750,000 total federal employees will be furloughed. The duration remains uncertain, though the record 35-day shutdown occurred during the previous administration. Furloughed workers will receive backpay once Congress approves government funding.
(Source: Info Security)
