Potential Government Shutdown May Result in Furloughs for Thousands of Federal Cybersecurity Personnel
The impending government shutdown poses significant risks to federal cybersecurity operations, potentially leading to furloughs for a substantial portion of the workforce at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Estimates suggest that nearly two-thirds of CISA’s personnel could be temporarily laid off, heightening the vulnerability of critical networks during a time typically marked by increased cyber threat activity, especially as the holiday season approaches.
According to federal contingency plans, CISA would require just four business hours to execute an “orderly cessation” of activities not mandated by law or not essential to presidential duties or life and property protection. Currently, CISA has 3,401 personnel on-board, but only 1,159 are expected to continue working through a shutdown, reflecting a dramatic impact on the agency’s operational capacity.
Contrasting CISA’s drastic cutbacks, other federal entities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which employs nearly 24,000 staff members, anticipate significantly fewer furloughs—under 4,000. The potential government disruption coincides with a period marked by increased cyber incidents, as evidenced by reports indicating heightened activities from malicious actors targeting organizations that might be unprepared due to reduced staffing levels.
This shutdown could further hinder vital technology services that support national security through entities like the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate. While dealing with a funding lapse, just 31 employees would remain active, representing a staggering 94% reduction in capacity to address emergent threats to the homeland, first responders, and the private sector.
The situation may also interrupt routine government functions, potentially leading to longer wait times at airports and furloughs affecting hundreds of thousands of employees. Experts emphasize that periods of political instability are often exploited by threat actors. Brian Fox, Chief Technology Officer at software supply chain management firm Sonatype, highlighted the critical role of CISA in effective cybersecurity during times of disruption, noting the propensity for threat actors to intensify their infiltration attempts amidst uncertainty.
As the shutdown is poised to begin at 12:01 a.m. on December 21 unless Congress can pass a short-term spending bill, lawmakers are facing mounting pressure to resolve the funding impasse. Following a rejected compromise package, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed commitment to keeping the government operational during the holiday season while the House prepares to vote on a spending bill that aims to sustain government funding through March 14.
For cybersecurity professionals and business owners, the implications of this shutdown extend beyond immediate operational disruptions; they encompass the elevated risks of cyber threats exploiting reduced federal oversight. Organizations should remain vigilant and consider how adversary tactics, such as initial access and privilege escalation (as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework), could be operationalized during such uncertain times.
