Trump’s politicized cyber personnel cull jeopardizes US, says senator

The U.S.'s cybersecurity posture was noted by Senate Intelligence Committee's top Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia to be severely threatened by the Trump administration's politically-motivated staffing dismissals, according to CyberScoop.

Trump's decision to cut back a third of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's workforce has removed the agency's election security workers, dismantling progress achieved by Trump during his first presidential term, Warner said. Despite mounting threats from foreign adversaries, former National Security Agency and Cyber Command Head Timothy Haugh, along with his deputy Wendy Noble, have been sacked due to statements from conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. Moreover, the removal of former FBI Criminal Cyber Response Branch Head Michael Nordwall has disturbed anti-ransomware and online fraud efforts.

"Firing agents who investigate terrorists, foreign spies, cyber hackers, and child predators does not make America safer, especially when the presidents own intelligence officials warn, publicly and repeatedly, of the many threats facing our nation," said Warner.