White House Suggests $500 Million Reduction for CISA

President Donald Trump has announced a nearly $500 million reduction in funding for the federal cyber defense agency as part of the administration’s upcoming budget proposal. This decision falls within the broader context of a spending plan aimed at realigning fiscal priorities for fiscal year 2026.

The White House sent a letter to the Senate appropriations committee outlining its discretionary spending recommendations, based on a “rigorous, line-by-line review” of the prior year’s allocations. The administration characterized the previous budget as excessively burdened with spending that did not align with the needs of average American citizens. A significant feature of this proposal is a $491 million cut to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), representing a 16% decrease from the previous fiscal year. Officials indicated that this move would allow the agency to refocus on its core objectives.

Trump asserted that the proposed spending cuts would target divisions within CISA responsible for combating online misinformation and those he described as infringing on First Amendment rights. Cybersecurity experts, however, caution that such reductions could critically impair CISA’s ability to address escalating cyber threats from foreign adversaries, potentially undermining the defenses of federal systems and essential infrastructure nationwide.

Details about how CISA would achieve a nearly $500 million budget cut remain unclear. The administration claims that these reductions will be narrowly focused on areas linked to perceived “censorship.” Yet, industry professionals suggest that every operational facet of the agency could feel the impact—from external engagement and public-private partnerships to software security initiatives, such as CISA’s “Secure by Design” pledge.

Since its establishment during Trump’s first term in 2018, CISA has grown significantly, boasting a budget of nearly $3 billion and a workforce of approximately 3,600 employees. This agency has increasingly become a focal point for the administration’s ongoing spending cuts, a trend underscored by previous controversies surrounding CISA, including public criticism aimed at former Director Chris Krebs and threats of further budgetary reductions in the coming years.

As the proposed budget progresses through the formal appropriations process, it will require congressional approval before reaching the president’s desk. The White House has not provided immediate commentary on the situation.