Multiple CISA divisions targeted in shutdown layoffs, people familiar say

"Staff within the Stakeholder Engagement Division, as well as the cyber-defense agency's Infrastructure Security Division, were targeted with reduction-in-force notices, or RIFs, said the people. OMB Director Russ Vought announced the actions on Friday in line with Trump administration promises to enact layoffs during the ongoing government shutdown. The Integrated Operations Division is also believed to have been impacted, one of the people said."

"CISA's Stakeholder Engagement Division oversees the agency's national and international partnership work. The Infrastructure Security division is widely considered a core unit of the agency that helps protect against risks to infrastructure like power grids and water treatment plants. That said, the infrastructure division hosts some subbranches that the Trump administration considers to be defunct. The Chemical Security subdivision, namely, is expected to phase out a number of initiatives and programs, per DHS budget justification documents released in May."

"Employees in the Chemical Security office are believed to have been targeted Friday, though many staff there also took deferred resignation program offers earlier this year, according to another person with knowledge of the matter. DRPs, which have been issued multiple times to feds since January, allow people to leave government service early while getting paid for a set period of time."

Several CISA divisions received termination orders Friday, with staff in the Stakeholder Engagement Division and Infrastructure Security Division issued reduction-in-force (RIF) notices. OMB Director Russ Vought announced the actions aligned with administration plans to carry out layoffs amid the government shutdown. The Integrated Operations Division may also have been affected. The Infrastructure Security division includes subbranches such as Chemical Security, which faces program phase-outs per DHS budget justification documents. Many Chemical Security employees previously accepted deferred resignation program (DRP) offers. DHS described RIFs as measures to help return CISA to mission focus. Exact termination numbers remain unknown.

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