Majority of DHS Employees to Maintain Operations During Government Shutdown

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Majority of DHS Employees to Maintain Operations During Government Shutdown

DHS Workforce to Largely Operate Amid Shutdown, But Cyber Agency Faces Challenges

Impact of the Government Shutdown on DHS Functions

As Congress approaches a critical funding deadline, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) prepares to retain over 90% of its workforce to ensure the continuity of its operations. According to DHS’s “Procedures Relating to a Lapse in Appropriations,” key components such as border patrol, airport security screeners, and emergency management specialists will continue their duties even if a budget agreement isn’t reached by Tuesday night.

DHS’s Staffing Strategy During Shutdown

Under DHS’s latest plan, updated on Sept. 30, approximately 249,065 employees will remain on duty, while 22,862 employees face furloughs. Essential services at major DHS divisions, including Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Transportation Security Administration, will continue to function as they are considered critical to national safety.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Out of 24,925 employees, 20,975 will be retained.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Funding from immigration processing fees means operations are less affected by federal appropriations.

However, some lesser-funded functions, primarily back-office tasks such as planning and auditing, will likely see a reduction in staff.

Challenges for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a crucial entity in defending national digital infrastructure, is slated to retain only about one-third of its staff during the shutdown. As of May 31, just 889 out of 2,540 CISA employees will continue working if the appropriations lapse.

Concerns Over Reduced Cybersecurity Readiness

Despite the advent of “cybersecurity awareness month” on Oct. 1, CISA faces diminished capacity due to recent layoffs and retirements. Adaptiva’s CEO, Deepak Kumar, highlighted the irony of reduced staffing amidst heightened cybersecurity awareness efforts. With sophisticated cyber threats prevalent, maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses is crucial.

Adding to CISA’s challenges, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 faces expiration, posing risks to the Automated Indicator Sharing program designed to facilitate cyber threat information exchange.

Future Outlook for Cyber Threat Collaboration

The DHS inspector general’s report underscores the uncertainties surrounding future cyber threat sharing and collaboration if legislative action is not taken promptly. The report suggests without finalizing plans for continued Automated Indicator Sharing (AIS) use, CISA might lack an efficient process to disseminate cyber threat data among its federal and critical infrastructure partners.

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