Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cybersecurity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senators press DHS on CISA role, alleged censorship and proposed budget cuts
Summary
Committee members questioned Secretary Noem about internal CISA activity accused of policing speech and about a large proposed cut to CISA's budget. Noem told senators DHS review found documents indicating inappropriate censorship and said the administration intends to refocus CISA on cybersecurity while fulfilling statutory responsibilities.
Senators on the Homeland Security Committee raised allegations that some employees at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) had spent significant time on content‑moderation or speech‑related activities rather than cyber defense. Committee members cited internal reviews and the "Twitter files" reporting as evidence that CISA had been involved in policing speech.
Secretary Noem told the panel that DHS review had "literally found thousands of documents that have proven that they were involved in censorship and policing speech," and she said the department will unveil findings to the committee. Noem added that the administration's budget proposal reduces CISA funding — a cut senators characterized as large (roughly $500 million mentioned during questioning) — but she said the agency will continue to meet its statutory cybersecurity obligations and that "putting it back on mission" means returning CISA to its original purpose as the nation's cybersecurity agency.
Why it matters: Senators from both parties said CISA must be on a clear mission to protect critical infrastructure and help state and local governments harden systems. Ranking member Gary Peters pushed the administration to support extending the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act authority (referred to at the hearing as CISA 2015) by 10 years to stabilize public‑private information sharing. Senators also asked whether specific programs serving states, localities and election security would be affected by the budget reductions.
What was said and not said: Noem said the administration endorses an extension of the information‑sharing authority and emphasized partnering with private industry. She declined during the hearing to provide a line‑by‑line accounting of which specific CISA offices or programs would be cut, saying only that the agency will fulfill statutory requirements and prioritize core cybersecurity work. No formal budget amendment or program list was produced at the hearing.
Ending: Senators asked for follow‑up details on which CISA programs and grants would be reduced and whether the department will provide specific program lists and timelines. Noem said DHS would continue to work with Congress and provide more information as the department refines its proposals.
