Acting CISA Director Warns DHS Shutdown Would Curtail Cyber Defense Operations
Acting CISA Director Madhu Gottumukkala told House appropriators that a potential Department of Homeland Security funding lapse would materially reduce CISA’s ability to support public- and private-sector partners, warning that “when the government shuts down, cyber threats do not.” He said a shutdown would degrade timely, actionable guidance; curtail core missions such as digital response; and limit work to activities deemed essential to protecting life and property—shifting the agency from proactive efforts (including vulnerability scanning) to a more reactive posture. He also said a shutdown would force more than a third of CISA’s frontline security experts and threat hunters to work without pay and would impede progress on CISA’s long-awaited cyber incident reporting rule.
In the same congressional context, Gottumukkala also acknowledged that about 70 CISA staff were reassigned to other DHS offices over the last year (including a “handful” to ICE), while “30 plus” personnel were transferred into CISA; a December 2025 staffing chart cited in reporting reflected 27 inbound and 65 outbound reassignments. Separately, Congress reauthorized the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA 2015)—which provides liability protections, FOIA exemptions, and other safeguards for sharing cyber threat indicators and defensive measures—extending it from its planned January 2026 sunset to September 30, 2026. Reporting on the Senate Intelligence Committee advancing a nominee to lead U.S. Cyber Command/NSA is related to federal cyber leadership but is not part of the shutdown/CISA operational-impact story.
Timeline
Feb 12, 2026
CISA announces CIRCIA listening sessions
CISA announced a series of listening sessions related to revisions to its Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act rulemaking. The announcement came as agency leaders warned a shutdown would further slow the already delayed rulemaking process.
Feb 11, 2026
Gottumukkala discloses 70 CISA staff were reassigned over the past year
In separate testimony to House appropriators, Gottumukkala said about 70 CISA employees had been reassigned to other DHS offices over the previous year, with more than 30 people transferred into CISA. The disclosure contradicted his earlier January remarks and intensified concerns about the agency's staffing and readiness.
Feb 11, 2026
Acting CISA chief warns Congress a DHS shutdown would cripple operations
Testifying before the House Appropriations Homeland Security subcommittee, Gottumukkala said a DHS funding lapse would furlough most of CISA's workforce, leave 888 of 2,341 employees as excepted staff working without pay, and halt or limit proactive cyber work. He said CISA would focus on immediate threats, maintain its 24/7 operations center, and pause or delay work including vulnerability scanning, service deployment, and CIRCIA rulemaking.
Jan 30, 2026
Congress grants short-term DHS funding extension
Congress approved a two-week extension of DHS funding, setting up a new Friday deadline and the risk of a partial shutdown if lawmakers failed to reach a broader agreement. The extension framed subsequent warnings from CISA about operational impacts.
Jan 1, 2026
Gottumukkala tells House panel reassignments did not occur during his tenure
In January, Gottumukkala told the House Homeland Security Committee that the staff reassignments did not occur during his tenure. That statement later conflicted with his February testimony acknowledging about 70 reassignments over the past year.
May 1, 2025
CISA reassigns about 70 employees to other DHS offices
Over the following year, roughly 70 CISA employees were management-directed to other DHS components, including some to ICE, while more than 30 employees transferred into CISA. Lawmakers later raised concerns that moving experienced cyber staff could weaken U.S. cyber defenses.
May 1, 2025
Madhu Gottumukkala joins CISA
Madhu Gottumukkala joined CISA in May of the prior year and later became acting director. His tenure became relevant to later congressional scrutiny over staff reassignments.
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Sources
2 more from sources like the record media and govinfosecurity
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