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Noem says CISA must 'get back to mission' as lawmakers question budget cuts and censorship claims
Summary
Secretary Noem told the panel she wants CISA focused on cybersecurity and protecting critical infrastructure; she also said the agency previously took actions she characterized as 'censorship' and that the administration will shift funding accordingly. Members from both parties asked about staffing, rulemaking and partnerships with industry.
Secretary Kristi Noem used her opening and several exchanges on May 20 to press CISA to focus on its cybersecurity mission and to report problems the administration says the agency had under prior leadership.
Noem said CISA “definitely was so far off mission that they forgot what their purpose clearly was,” and that the agency must “hunt down bad actors and harden our systems” and support state, local and private sector partners. She criticized prior work the department described as reviewing misinformation and said the administration has halted what witnesses called “MDM” (mis-, dis‑ and malinformation) activities that some lawmakers accused of censoring political speech under the prior administration.
Members of the committee asked technical and budgetary questions. Representative Gabarino (chair of the subcommittee on cybersecurity) asked whether DHS supports reauthorization of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015; Noem said the administration does. Lawmakers also asked about CISA staff reductions and rulemaking procedures; Noem said the agency’s cyber posture is being strengthened and that the department will solicit more private‑sector input on proposed rules.
Republican members pressed Noem to reposition CISA away from content review and toward operational support for critical infrastructure. Democrats questioned staff cuts and asked for written responses on personnel changes; the secretary committed to provide requested information and to work with members on the agency’s rulemaking process.
No formal votes were taken. The committee will follow up with written requests for personnel and program details and for CISA’s plan to comply with statutory missions and executive guidance.
