US Cyber Defense Agency Admits to Major Staffing Crisis

Internal Memo Says Trump-Era Cuts 'Hampered' CISA During 'Pivotal Moment' Chris Riotta (@chrisriotta) • November 18, 2025

The top political appointee at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said he faces a major staffing crisis, an admission made after the Trump administration spent this year hollowing out the U.S. cyber defense agency.

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Acting CISA Director Madhu Gottumukkala - initially appointed deputy director in May by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem - wrote in a November memo that "the recent reduction in personnel has limited CISA's ability to fully support national security imperatives." The memo urged the agency to hire "highly qualified professionals by the end of fiscal year 2026 to strengthen the agency's defensive posture."

The memo follows a ...