The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 31, 2025
Today’s Script
(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)
Last April, federal cybersecurity agency CISA issued warnings to election officials on how to combat a Russian online scheme to mislead American voters in the 2024 election. CISA is now under attack by its own administration.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act was signed by President Donald Trump in 2018, with part of its mission to protect election systems. It played a vital role in hardening state and local computer systems prior to the 2024 election, supporting state election officials, and monitoring hacking and disinformation campaigns perpetrated by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
After the 2020 election, it refuted Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was manipulated. Trump fired its director, and CISA was targeted by both Project 2025 and the Heritage Foundation for a dramatic overhaul, with some conservatives calling for the agency’s elimination.
As foreign threats ramped up, so did CISA, doubling in size during the Biden administration. Just before the inauguration, President Biden issued an executive order requiring new CISA cybersecurity standards be implemented, but Trump immediately revoked it January 20th. CISA’s highly-qualified director, Jen Easterly, resigned on inauguration day.
New Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in her confirmation hearing that CISA had “Strayed from its mission” by monitoring disinformation. As governor of South Dakota, she refused federal funding to harden cyber systems, calling it “wasteful spending.”
We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Brennan Center for Justice – Project 2025’s Plan for Cybersecurity Agency Threatens Election Security
Federal News Network – What will 2025 bring for CISA?
Democracy Docket – A Little-Known Federal Agency Helps Secure Elections. Trump Wants to Gut It.
Associated Press – US cyber agency’s future role in elections remains murky under the Trump administration
Wired – Audio Story – Under Trump, US Cyberdefense Loses Its Head
Politico – Noem calls to shrink CISA, saying the cyber agency has gone ‘far off mission’
South Dakota Searchlight – After Noem turns down federal cyber money, lawmaker suggests using state funds
Groups Taking Action:
IssueOne/Don’t Mess With US.org, Common Cause US, Protect Elections, Center for Internet Security/ISAC
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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#Democracy #DemocracyNews #ElectionSecurity #CISA #CyberSecurity