CISA, eyeing China, plans hiring spree to rebuild its depleted ranks

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will increase its hiring efforts in 2026 as it seeks to rebuild from the Trump administration’s deep cuts and prepare for a potential U.S. conflict with China.

“The recent reduction in personnel has limited CISA’s ability to fully support national security imperatives and administration priorities,” acting CISA director Madhu Gottumukkala said in a Nov. 5 memo to staff obtained by Cybersecurity Dive. The agency has “reached a pivotal moment,” he added, but it remains “hampered by an approximately 40% vacancy rate across key mission areas.”

With China continuing to target U.S. and allied critical infrastructure, and experts predicting a crisis in 2027, Gottumukkala wrote, “CISA must hire highly qualified professionals by the end of fiscal year 2026 to strengthen the agency’s defensive posture.”

Read more at Cybersecurity Dive