During the first months of the new Trump administration, the White House cut cybersecurity budgets, staff and initiatives. And some people, including cybersecurity experts and legislators, are not happy about it.
One of them is Colin Ahern, the Chief Cyber Director of New York. In a recent interview with TechCrunch, Ahern said both he and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul were worried that the Trump administration’s cybersecurity cuts put the country at risk.
“We work with the federal government every day. We need and hope that the federal government is effective,” Ahern told TechCrunch. “I don’t think it’s a secret that we’re worried about a lot of what we see in the ‘big ugly bills’.
Trump’s cybersecurity cuts are widespread and widespread.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has fired more than 100 employees at the CISA. This was the government had to call again after the court’s decision overturned the decision. Trump’s one big beautiful bill law cuts more than $1.2 billion in cybersecurity spending across federal agencies, including cutting CISA’s $135 million, but has won $1 billion over the next four years for offensive cyber operations for overseas hacking businesses.
Meanwhile, the White House’s nomination for national cyber director was criticised for lack of previous experience in the field, and the U.S. Department of Education has suspended the K-12 school cybersecurity assistance initiative.
“Everyone wants a federal government that has the vital ability to stop enemies who are resilient against cyber attacks and other attacks from the enemy,” Ahern told TechCrunch. “Like we’ve said publicly, we think what’s going on in Washington puts them at risk.”
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The US federal government is responsible for many of the nation’s cybersecurity responsibilities, but individual states share important tasks to ensure their own networks, state organizations such as public schools, and critical infrastructure organizations such as water utilities. But some of that funding comes from Washington.
Earlier this month, Hochul wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Christa Noem asking for funds available under the Homeland Security Grants Program (HSGP).
“HSGP funding is essential to securing and maintaining critical infrastructure assets (transport hubs, power grids, water systems, communications networks),” wrote Hochul, urging Noem to access funds “quickly.”
Ahearn acknowledged the challenges with the federal government, but he said it does not mean that the state is “staying.”
“We continue to invest time, resources and energy to build relationships across state boundaries and party lines. [and] Our relationship with counties and local governments will continue to provide a safe, resilient, affordable New York that appears to be the very heart of culture, finance and economy,” he said.
According to Ahern, Hochul is speaking out and active in efforts to improve cybersecurity in New York.
Last month, the governor signed a new law requiring that anyone working on computers in state, city, county, or district government agencies in New York receives cybersecurity awareness training. The law also requires a state government agency that is the victim of a cyberattack, report the incident to the Homeland Security Agency within 72 hours and pay ransomware within 24 hours.
Last week, Hochul announced a new proposed law to launch a new grant program for water and wastewater organizations with the aim of funding upgrades that must be come up with in order to comply with future regulations.
Ahern told TechCrunch that the state government has opened a new office in New York City, with several technicians on staff, including cybersecurity officers. Ahern said he wants to recruit people who have lost their jobs due to the Trump administration.
“Doge says you’ve been fired. New York says you’ve been hired,” Ahearn said.
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