CISA Lost 1,000+ Employees After Trump Took Office, Says Report

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has experienced an unprecedented exodus of personnel during the second Trump administration, with approximately 1,000 employees departing the federal cybersecurity agency.

This dramatic workforce reduction represents nearly one-third of the agency’s total staff and has already exceeded the administration’s proposed budget cuts for fiscal year 2026, raising significant concerns about the nation’s cybersecurity preparedness amid escalating digital threats.

The scale of departures at CISA has surpassed even the Trump administration’s ambitious downsizing plans.

While the White House’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 suggested cutting CISA’s workforce by 1,083 positions—reducing staff from 3,732 employees to 2,649 roles—the agency has already reached these target numbers through voluntary departures and organizational restructuring.

The exodus has occurred through multiple channels, with approximately 600 employees accepting the Department of Homeland Security’s second buyout offer within the last two months, with their final day of service occurring on Friday.

An additional 174 personnel had previously taken the first round of deferred-resignation offers as of March 28.

The remaining departures involved contractors and specialized teams, including those working in election integrity units and diversity-and-inclusion offices that have reportedly been eliminated.

This workforce reduction coincides with a proposed 17% budget cut for the agency, creating a compound effect that cybersecurity experts warn could leave critical infrastructure vulnerable.

The timing is particularly concerning given the administration’s stated plans to increase offensive cyber operations against adversarial nations like China, which experts anticipate will provoke retaliatory responses.

Senior Leadership Exodus

The departures have disproportionately affected CISA’s senior leadership and specialized program areas.

According to internal communications, virtually all of the agency’s senior officials have now left their positions, creating a significant leadership vacuum during a critical period for national cybersecurity.

Notable departures include Lauren Zabierek and Bob Lord, who oversaw CISA’s flagship “Secure by Design” initiative, both leaving last month.

Matt Hartman, the second-ranking official in CISA’s cybersecurity division, departed last week, while Lisa Einstein, the agency’s chief AI officer, resigned in February.

Additionally, Boyden Rohner, assistant director of the integrated operations division, accepted an early retirement offer in April.

The international partnerships and engagement division has also experienced significant personnel losses, according to professional networking platform updates.

These departures have affected some of CISA’s most visible and impactful programs, potentially undermining the agency’s ability to maintain critical cybersecurity initiatives and international cooperation efforts.

Future Leadership Changes

According to Report, CISA leadership maintains confidence in the agency’s operational capacity.

Executive Director Bridget Bean stated that the organization has “the right team in place to fulfill that mission and ensure that we are prepared for a range of cyber threats from our adversaries.”

The agency has begun appointing new officials to key positions, including Madhu Gottumukkala, former CIO at South Dakota’s Bureau of Information and Technology, who now serves as deputy director.

Kate DiEmidio, previously vice president of government affairs at Dragos, has joined as legislative affairs chief.

Sean Plankey, Trump’s nominee to lead CISA, faces Senate Homeland Security Committee testimony on Thursday, where he is expected to address questions about the workforce cuts and future organizational plans.

The overwhelming response to buyout offers has reportedly led the agency to consider scrapping additional mass layoff plans, though the long-term implications for national cybersecurity capacity remain uncertain.

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