Lawmakers Raise Alarm Over CISA Workforce Cuts, Losing Nearly a Third of Staff

NewsData.io · United States · Aug 25, 2026

Five Democratic lawmakers have asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate the impact of significant workforce reductions at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which has lost roughly 1,000 employees — about one-third of its staff — in the first half of 2025. A proposed $700 million budget cut would eliminate an additional ~900 jobs, refocusing CISA on federal network defense while cutting programs including election security. For staffing firms with government or cybersecurity sector clients, the hollowing out of a major federal agency signals both reduced contracting opportunities in the near term and potential demand for specialized cyber talent if the agency moves to rehire or supplement with contractors.