South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem's potential leadership at the Department of Homeland Security will likely reshape CISA. Her vision emphasizes a return to core technical cybersecurity functions, but critics worry about the potential for gaps in addressing hybrid threats and online radicalization.
Kristi Noem , the South Dakota Governor, is poised to make significant changes to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency ( CISA ) if confirmed as the next head of the Department of Homeland Security. During her Senate confirmation hearing on January 17, 2025, Noem outlined a bold vision for CISA , emphasizing a return to its core technical cybersecurity mission.
She pledged to strip away controversial ventures into political disinformation and election interference, refocusing the agency on its technical strengths.CISA was established in 2018 during President Trump's first term to combat escalating cyber threats targeting critical U.S. infrastructure. Its initial mandate was clear: serve as a technical hub to secure vital systems like power grids and water supplies, while providing expertise to federal, state, and private partners. Noem's vision for CISA is a streamlined approach, prioritizing the dissemination of actionable threat intelligence and best practices to stakeholders. She argues that determining election interference or combating disinformation falls outside CISA's purview and expertise, and should be handled by specialized agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). This proposed shift in focus raises concerns among critics who argue that eliminating non-core functions like misinformation oversight could create dangerous gaps in the nation's defenses. Hybrid threats, encompassing state-sponsored propaganda, extremist recruitment by groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, require a coordinated response. Removing CISA from this equation, they contend, may weaken the nation's ability to counter these multifaceted digital threats. Adding to the complexity is President Biden's recent executive order, issued days before his term ended, which expands CISA's responsibilities to include combating misinformation and assessing risks associated with emerging technologies. How CISA will address this executive order remains uncertain. Will they modify it to align with Noem's vision, discard it altogether, or seek a middle ground? The decision carries significant implications for CISA's role in shaping the nation's cybersecurity strategy moving forward.The rapid radicalization of terrorists, both domestic and foreign, adds another layer to this debate. These actors exploit digital platforms for recruitment, incitement of violence, and planning attacks, as evidenced by the New Year's attack in New Orleans. While Noem maintains that such threats are best handled by intelligence and law enforcement agencies, others worry that removing CISA from disinformation oversight could leave critical vulnerabilities in the nation's defenses. The ultimate question is whether a leaner, more technically focused CISA can effectively collaborate with the FBI, CIA, and other agencies to address these evolving threats
CYBERSECURITY CISA Kristi Noem Department Of Homeland Security Election Interference Disinformation Hybrid Threats Terrorist Radicalization
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