Congressional Funding Package Targets CISA Staffing, Election Security, and Federal Cyber Modernization
A DHS “minibus” appropriations package would direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to maintain “sufficient” staffing to execute its statutory missions, including support to federal civilian agencies and state/local/tribal/territorial partners. The accompanying congressional language also calls for maintaining at least 10 regional field offices and having at least one Cyber Security Advisor per state or territory, while continuing to fund election security activities (including regional election security advisers and the Elections Infrastructure ISAC). The bill would provide $2.6B for CISA, down from roughly $3B previously cited in the reporting.
The same funding package would extend authorization for the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF)—which had lapsed—through Sept. 30 (end of FY2026), enabling continued federal IT modernization investments that are often tied to cyber risk reduction. It would also extend several cybersecurity-related statutory authorities, including the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, preserving a legal framework for private-sector sharing of cyber threat intelligence with U.S. government entities under specified liability protections. Separately, CISA leadership turmoil was reported as internal pushback halted an attempted management-directed reassignment of CISA CIO Robert Costello, adding to concerns about decision-making and stability amid ongoing pressure from persistent threats to federal networks and critical infrastructure.
Timeline
Jan 20, 2026
Lawmakers direct CISA to sustain staffing and election security work
The joint explanatory statement for the January 2026 appropriations package instructed CISA to maintain sufficient staffing, preserve regional and state cyber advisor coverage, and continue election security efforts. The bill would provide CISA $2.6 billion through the end of fiscal year 2026, including $39.6 million for election security and support for EI-ISAC.
Jan 20, 2026
Appropriators release funding package extending cyber programs
On January 20, 2026, House and Senate appropriators released a minibus funding package that would extend the Technology Modernization Fund, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, and the National Cybersecurity Protection System through Sept. 30, 2026.
Dec 1, 2025
TMF authorization lapses, halting new investments
The Technology Modernization Fund's authorization expired more than a month before the January 2026 appropriations package, preventing the fund from making new investments while Congress considered reauthorization.
Jan 20, 2025
CISA workforce shrinks by about one-third
Beginning in early 2025, federal staffing reduction efforts led CISA to lose roughly one-third of its workforce, raising concerns about its ability to carry out statutory missions.
Jan 20, 2025
Trump administration ends support for EI-ISAC
The Trump administration terminated support for the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, a move the article says contributed to disarray among state and local election offices.
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