Former National Security Agency (NSA) director of cybersecurity, Rob Joyce, warned on Wednesday that the mass reduction in federal workers will have a “devastating” impact on U.S. cybersecurity and national security. Joyce testified before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, discussing the harmful consequences of cutting government employees, particularly in areas critical for countering Chinese cyber threats.
Joyce explained that eliminating probationary employees would destroy a vital pipeline for new talent essential to combatting cyber threats from China. These workers play a key role in protecting U.S. critical infrastructure, telecommunications, and other sectors from ongoing cyberattacks.
Over 100,000 federal employees have either taken early retirement or been laid off under the direction of former President Donald Trump and advisor Elon Musk’s initiative to drastically reduce the size of federal agencies. While it’s unclear how many NSA employees have been affected, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has already cut more than 130 positions as of mid-February. CISA is tasked with defending civilian federal networks and facilitating collaboration between private industry and the government on cybersecurity issues.
Despite national security jobs being exempt from the cuts, some critical cybersecurity positions have still been eliminated, further raising concerns about the long-term impact on U.S. cyber defense. The White House and NSA did not respond to requests for comment, while DHS stated that the cuts would save $50 million, emphasizing that efforts are ongoing to eliminate positions that do not align with the agency’s mission.