By Byron V. Acohido
Once again, politicians are playing political football, threatening a fourth partial government shutdown in a decade.
Related: Biden’s cybersecurity strategy
As this political theater runs its course one of the many things at risk is national security, particularly on the cyber warfare front. Given the divergent paths of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of representatives, federal agencies could see funding largely choked off on Sunday, resulting in the furloughing of hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
A wide range of federal government services, once more, would slow to a crawl — everything from economic data releases to nutrition benefits for poor children. And the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) may be forced to send home some 80 percent of its workforce, drastically shrinking its capabilities as a catalyst for public-private sharing of fresh threat intelligence.
Out of 3,117 employees, only 571 will remain active during a shutdown, based on the Department of Homeland Security’s updated plan for “lapse in appropriations.” This plan contrasts with most other DHS sectors, where employees like airport screeners and FEMA staff will continue their duties during the shutdown.
Last Watchdog caught up with Rep. Lou Correa, D – Calif., who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, and is the to ..
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