Redazione RHC : 29 July 2025 21:11
In the first months of Donald Trump’s new presidency, the U.S. federal government made drastic cuts to cybersecurity spending, cutting budgets, staff, and a range of initiatives aimed at protecting digital infrastructure. These measures alarmed some local officials, including New York State’s chief cybersecurity officer, Colin Ahern, and Governor Kathy Hochul, who publicly expressed concern about the impact of these measures.
Ahern, speaking on behalf of the New York administration, noted that the White House’s actions undermine the country’s ability to counter external cyber threats. Particular discontent was caused by the so-called “Big Ugly Bill” passed in July, the administration’s flagship budget measure, which significantly reduced funding for key IT facilities.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) budget was cut by $135 million, bringing the total cuts for all federal agencies to over $1.2 billion. At the same time, the document provides funding of $1 billion for offensive cyber operations abroad over the next four years.
The cuts were accompanied by mass layoffs, with over a hundred CISA employees losing their jobs. Some of them were later reinstated by court order. The candidacy of the new federal director of cybersecurity was also criticized: Sean Plankey, the nominee nominated by the Trump administration, had no experience in the field. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education has suspended a program to help schools with digital security.
States, while having their own cybersecurity powers, rely heavily on federal support, especially to protect resources like water utilities, energy hubs, and transportation infrastructure. To help offset the shortfall caused by federal measures, Governor Hochul wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, urging her to urgently allocate funds through the Homeland Security Grant Program. These funds are needed to support local and regional security, including digital security.
New York, however, is not slowing down. Ahern said that the state is continuing to step up efforts to build resilient defenses, collaborating with other regions and levels of government. These efforts include expanding infrastructure, strengthening interagency relationships, and launching new educational and technology initiatives.
One such measure is a law recently signed by Governor Hochul, requiring all public employees who work with computers to undergo digital hygiene training. Additionally, governments are required to report incidents within 72 hours of a cyberattack, or within 24 hours if data is stolen as a result of an attack. A grant program is also being established to upgrade water and sewer systems to ensure they comply with new regulatory requirements.
Furthermore, the state is opening a new cybersecurity office in New York City, which will employ professionals, including those laid off from federal agencies as a result of the restructuring. The government intends to use a public campaign with the slogan “DOGE says: You’re fired. New York says: You’re hired” as a symbol of the new direction and to support professionals who have lost their jobs due to political decisions in Washington.
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