The Trump administration’s 2026 budget proposal calls for steep cuts to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), reducing its funding by nearly $495 million and slashing more than 1,000 jobs—about 30% of the agency’s workforce.
If approved, the cuts would shrink CISA’s budget from $2.87 billion to $2.38 billion. The plan signals a narrower focus on protecting federal networks and critical infrastructure, while stripping back broader cyber defense initiatives.
Major Cuts Across Core Divisions
The proposed reductions hit nearly every major division:
- Cybersecurity Division: Down $216 million, undermining efforts to protect critical infrastructure and government systems.
- Integrated Operations Division: Down $46.2 million, reducing support to businesses and local governments.
- Stakeholder Engagement Division: Slashed by 62%, cutting $62.2 million and weakening collaboration with private-sector partners.
- National Risk Management Center: Down 73%, or $97.4 million—severely limiting the agency’s ability to analyze and predict cyber threats.
Procurement spending would also drop by nearly $69 million, curbing CISA’s ability to upgrade its cyber tools and systems.
Election Security Program on the Chopping Block
The administration is proposing to eliminate CISA’s Election Security Program entirely, cutting $39.6 million and 14 positions. This would dismantle the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC), which supports state and local officials in guarding against election-related cyber threats.
Workforce and Program Losses
Overall, the plan would cut CISA’s workforce from 3,294 to 2,324 employees. Key losses include:
- 218 jobs from Mission Support
- 204 from the Cybersecurity Division
- 327 from Integrated Operations
- 127 from Stakeholder Engagement
Programs like the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative, Cyber Defense Education and Training, and the Joint Collaborative Environment would all take substantial funding hits, with cuts ranging from $14 million to $67 million.
Justification and Backlash
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the cuts, saying CISA needs to get “back to basics”—protecting critical infrastructure and federal networks. She argued that election security and disinformation monitoring fall outside the agency’s core responsibilities.
But critics say the timing couldn’t be worse. Cyber threats from foreign governments and criminal groups are on the rise, and many lawmakers are pushing back.
Senators Mark Warner, Richard Blumenthal, Elissa Slotkin, and Ron Wyden have all voiced concerns, warning that these cuts would weaken national cyber defenses and leave vital systems more vulnerable.
What’s Next
The budget still needs congressional approval. Lawmakers have until the end of September to finalize government spending or risk a shutdown.
Senate hearings on CISA’s leadership are scheduled for Thursday, and these proposed cuts are expected to be front and center in the debate.
As the conversation unfolds, the future of U.S. cybersecurity policy—and CISA’s role in it—hangs in the balance.
