The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) axed members of both private and government cybersecurity advisory committees shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration. The Cyber Security Review Board (CSRB) was among the most significantly impacted groups.
An insider described the decision as “horribly shortsighted,” especially due to ongoing cyber threats from China against U.S. infrastructure. The anonymous source also noted the critical role CSRB played in understanding and combating such attacks.
Moreover, this abrupt disbanding of the CSRB raises questions as the board recently examined the devastating breaches at various U.S. telecom firms, allegedly led by Chinese government hackers.
In response to this controversy, DHS outlined that advisory committees perceived to undermine national security, presidential agenda, or American constitutional rights would not be tolerated. The purported misuse of resources was also cited as a reason for the termination.
Interesting to note, however, is that these advisory board members were volunteers drawing no salary, making the ‘misuse of resources’ claim contentious.
Affected members and cybersecurity experts stressed the importance of these roles being filled based on skills and merit, regardless of any political affiliations. Other DHS advisory committees that are reportedly affected by this decision are those dedicated to artificial intelligence, telecommunications, science and technology, and emergency preparedness.
Original source: Read the full article on TechCrunch
