Trump administration plans to cut cybersecurity agency’s budget by $700 million

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) faces a significant budget reduction under the Trump administration's proposal for 2027, with plans to slash funding by over $707 million. Released recently as part of a broader omnibus budget plan, this proposal also includes measures such as the privatization of airport security. Administration officials assert that the budget cut aims to realign CISA’s focus towards its primary mission: securing the federal civilian network and safeguarding critical infrastructure from cyber threats. They argue that the agency has become distracted by what they describe as 'weaponization and waste.' Additionally, the proposal criticizes CISA for allegedly engaging in censorship, a point that seems to reference its initiatives to combat misinformation during the contentious 2020 presidential election. The budget proposal also seeks to eliminate redundant programs, including certain school safety initiatives already managed at both state and federal levels. Since President Trump's re-election in 2025, he and his administration have reiterated unfounded claims about CISA's alleged censorship practices, often targeting former CISA director Chris Krebs, who was initially appointed by Trump himself. Last year, similar budget cut proposals were met with resistance from lawmakers, ultimately reducing the proposed decrease to around $135 million after extensive negotiations. If approved, the current budget plan would lower CISA’s operating budget to approximately $2 billion. Amid ongoing cybersecurity threats, experts and lawmakers highlight that CISA is already struggling, having endured a series of cuts, staff reductions, and layoffs that resulted in hundreds of employees leaving the agency. Compounding these challenges, CISA has not had a permanently confirmed director since Trump resumed office in 2025. In the past year alone, the U.S. government has faced numerous high-profile cyberattacks, including breaches attributed to Russian and Chinese hackers, as well as Iranian threats that compromised sensitive information.