The nation's premier cybersecurity defense agency faced a devastating blow as over 130 probationary employees, including some of its most talented recruits, were terminated in what staff dubbed the "Valentine's Day Massacre."
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) lost approximately 4% of its workforce in the sweeping cuts, including threat hunters, incident response specialists, and analysts with top-secret clearances who were recruited through the agency's innovative Cyber Talent Management System (CTMS).
Among those terminated was Kelly Shaw, a former Navy intelligence analyst who helped establish a critical program monitoring cyber threats to the nation's power grid, pipelines, and water systems. "I've never been in this situation before. I've never been fired," said Shaw, who holds two master's degrees and nine specialized cyber certifications.
The mass terminations have alarmed lawmakers and security experts. "These are elite hunters that look across critical infrastructure and government networks to figure out if bad actors are active," said a former CISA employee who requested anonymity. "The people who find how deeply they've penetrated and how to get them out."
The Department of Homeland Security defended the cuts, with spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stating they aim to "eliminate egregious waste and incompetence" in federal government. However, critics argue the cuts severely impact national security capabilities.
Former NSA cybersecurity director Rob Joyce expressed "grave concerns" about the impact on America's cyber defenses, warning the cuts "will destroy a pipeline of top talent responsible for hunting and eradicating threats."
While some federal agencies have begun rehiring terminated employees following legal challenges, CISA has yet to reverse any terminations. The agency confirmed it had 142 employees in its talent recruitment program but declined to specify how many were fired.
For terminated employees like Paula Davis, who analyzed infrastructure vulnerabilities, the cuts end what she called her "dream job" protecting critical systems. "We're being targeted daily, hourly and every single minute," Davis noted, emphasizing the ongoing nature of cyber threats.
The terminations come amid broader changes to federal cybersecurity efforts, including the removal of staff focused on preventing foreign election interference. Former CISA director Jen Easterly has created a job matching site to help displaced workers, while congressional leaders have established hotlines for affected employees to share their stories.