Senators press nominee on cybersecurity and CISA's role; Noem vows to refocus agency on hardening critical systems

Lawmakers used the hearing to press Kristi Noem on cybersecurity failures and CISA's role. Senator Peters cited recent intrusions — including an attack on the Treasury Department and broader campaigns attributed in testimony to Chinese state-backed actors — and asked whether federal agencies should be required to implement upgrades.

Noem said CISA's mission is "to hunt and harden," and criticized what she described as the agency's venturing into misinformation and disinformation work. "They're using their resources in ways that was never intended... the misinformation and disinformation that they have stuck their toe into and meddled with, should be refocused back onto what their job is," she said.

Several senators urged stronger support for state and local governments, noting a Congressional cybersecurity grant program and small-school impacts from ransomware attacks; Noem said federal grants should be evaluated to ensure they do not force states to expand administrative costs and argued for leveraging public-private partnerships and university cyber workforce pipelines, citing Dakota State University as a model.

Noem also linked foreign cyber campaigns to national security priorities and advocated a whole-of-government approach, saying she would prioritize technologies and coordination "to protect our nation's digital landscape." Senators signaled interest in working with the nominee to adjust grant structures and improve CISA's focus on critical infrastructure protection.