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U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA<\/a> is reportedly in dire shape<\/a>, according to bipartisan lawmakers and industry leaders who fear that the agency\u2019s ability to perform its core mission has been diminished and left it unprepared for a cybersecurity crisis.<\/p>\n News site Cyberscoop\u2019s<\/a> Tim Starks spoke with sources across Congress, the private cyber industry, and beyond, and what came back reflected a general consensus that CISA has suffered under cuts and layoffs during the Trump administration\u2019s first year.<\/p>\n Over that time, CISA has lost around one-third of its staff, which cost it programs, personnel, and expertise, including the agency\u2019s counter-ransomware initiative and efforts to promote secure software development. Some of these have included several members of its election security team<\/a>, TechCrunch reported last year. CISA is the federal agency responsible for election security. Some warned that Trump\u2019s ongoing obsession with promoting false claims about the 2020 election has led to the administration deprioritizing CISA.<\/p>\n CISA also\u00a0reassigned<\/a><\/span> hundreds of other staffers<\/a> to aid other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security as part of the Trump administration\u2019s broad immigration crackdown.<\/p>\n Many of Cyberscoop\u2019s sources blame the Trump administration, Congress, or both. Others singled out CISA\u2019s acting director, Madhu Gottumukkala, as having struggled to lead the agency and reportedly caused security headaches<\/a> as a result.<\/p>\n CISA has been without a permanent director<\/a> since Trump entered office in 2025.<\/p>\n