Former Members of Congress Ask Congress to Stop President’s Dismantling of Cybersecurity Infrastructure

President Trump’s politicization and erosion of cybersecurity infrastructure has weakened our national security and left our country more exposed to cyber threats in the current military conflict with Iran. Since the start of his second term, the Trump administration has cut congressionally-mandated cyber programs, weakened the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), removed top leadership at the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, and more. In response to these actions and heightened cybersecurity risks with the war in Iran, Ambassador Tim Roemer (D-IN), co-chair of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus, issued the following statement:

“Cybersecurity must always be a national security priority in the chaotic and turbulent world we live in. Yet, the Trump administration has ignored cyber capabilities and threats at great potential peril, and has gutted cybersecurity infrastructure. With potentially increased vulnerabilities due to the ongoing war with Iran, America must be fully prepared and fully staffed for cyberattacks on our domestic infrastructure and on our citizens. Our premier agency tasked with protecting us, CISA, currently does not have a permanent leader confirmed by the Senate and is significantly understaffed.

“Congress must take immediate bipartisan action to implement steps to improve our national security from Iranian attacks, as evidenced by the devastating hit on the U.S. medical device company, Stryker. Drones, proxy groups, cyber, and speedboats are Iran’s asymmetrical threats, and they are actively hurting American troops and citizens.”

ReFormers Caucus member Congressman Reid Ribble (R-WI), former member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, added:

“Every American should care about our nation’s ability to respond to cyber threats. This should not be a partisan issue. The Trump administration’s actions to eliminate the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force, make significant staffing cuts to CISA, and roll back standard guardrails against foreign influence are deeply troubling. Our country’s national security infrastructure should not be politically manipulated by any president.

“I call on my former colleagues in Congress to conduct oversight and act now to restore staffing before Russia, China, Iran, or other adversaries accelerate their cyber attacks on the United States.”

Background

Last fall, Issue One released a report analyzing how the politicization of cybersecurity infrastructure has dismantled and weakened U.S. national security. The report includes key recommendations for Congress, calling for elected officials to act now to strengthen core cyber authorities, enforce execution of appropriated funds, prevent executive branch overreach, conduct oversight of major cyber failures, reaffirm the reality and severity of foreign malign influence operations, and protect the independence and integrity of cyber threat intelligence.