Trump budget would eliminate CISA disinformation offices, alleging censorship
The president's budget proposal, released Friday, claimed CISA's disinformation offices and programs 'functioned as a hub in the Censorship Industrial Complex.'
'CISA was more focused on cooperating with Big Tech to target free speech than our nation's critical systems,' the White House wrote in a fact sheet. 'Even CISA's own systems have fallen prey to attacks.'
CISA, formed in 2018 during the first Trump administration, is tasked with securing the nation's infrastructure, including election voting systems. It is housed under the Department of Homeland Security.
The proposal calls for slashing the agency's budget by about $491 million. This would be a nearly 16 percent reduction in funding the agency recieved last year. It currently has a budget of about $3 billion.
Trump and some Republicans have repeatedly gone after CISA, accusing the agency of working with social media companies to censor conservative content.
The fiscal year 2026 budget proposal echoes this sentiment, claiming it is part of the administration's efforts to stop the 'weaponization of the federal government.'
'Under President Trump's leadership, CISA will protect our critical infrastructure instead of censoring Americans,' the fact sheet stated. 'The Budget refocuses CISA on its core mission—Federal network defense and coordinating with critical infrastructure partners—while eliminating weaponization and waste.'
The president and his allies have also taken issue with CISA for the agency's efforts to prevent misinformation about the 2020 election.
Trump fired former CISA director Christopher Krebs from his post in November 2020, just days after he refused the president's false claims of election fraud. The Trump administration launched an investigation into Krebs earlier this month and revoked his security clearance.
The administration is reportedly planning workforce cuts at CISA as part of its broader goal to reduce the federal government, though it is not clear if and when this restructuring plan will happen.
Trump tapped Sean Plankey as the next director of CISA, but he has not yet been confirmed. His nomination was placed on hold last month by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who is demanding the agency release a report about telecommunications insecurity.
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