Gov. Noem Axes 24 FEMA Employees Over Serious Cybersecurity Breaches | CNN Politics

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has taken a bold step by firing about 24 IT employees from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including senior leaders. This action follows a cybersecurity review that revealed concerning vulnerabilities in FEMA’s network.

According to a DHS press release, the review found that these weaknesses could have allowed unauthorized access to sensitive data. Thankfully, the breach was caught before any data was compromised. However, it led to significant concerns about security protocols being overlooked.

Noem didn’t hold back in her criticism, calling the actions of FEMA’s IT leadership “incompetence.” She alleged that they attempted to downplay the severity of the breach and hindered efforts to fix the issues. “These individuals were more focused on covering up their failures than on protecting American citizens’ personal data,” she stated.

This decision shocked many within FEMA. Some longtime officials described the dismissed leaders as highly respected and competent professionals. For months, tensions between DHS and FEMA have been growing, particularly since the Trump administration aimed to reform the disaster response agency.

Compounding the issues, reports indicate that this group resisted crucial cybersecurity fixes, avoided necessary inspections, and misled officials about their vulnerabilities. These failures included a lack of multi-factor authentication and neglecting known security issues.

This isn’t the first time Noem has taken decisive action. Earlier this year, four FEMA employees, including a highly regarded chief financial officer, were terminated after Elon Musk tweeted claims about the agency mishandling funds for housing migrants. However, other investigations suggested these employees had sought legal guidance and believed they were acting within the rules.

The ongoing scrutiny of FEMA is not just an internal affair; it reflects broader national concerns about cybersecurity in government agencies. Recent statistics indicate that cyberattacks on federal entities have increased by 50% over the past year. This highlights the urgent need for robust security measures and accountability within agencies responsible for protecting sensitive information.

As cyber threats become more sophisticated, it’s crucial for agencies like FEMA to adapt and strengthen their protocols. The leadership team will need to focus on establishing a culture that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and security to regain public trust and protect sensitive data.

For further insights into FEMA’s historical challenges and ongoing reforms, you can explore more about the agency’s evolution over the years [here](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/29/politics/noem-fires-fema-employees-cybersecurity). The stakes are high, and the need for reform has never been more pressing.

Source link