Is Kristi Noem's plan to weaken CISA a threat to democracy?

Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, indicated during her confirmation hearing Friday that she would scale back the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Noem argued that CISA had strayed from its core mission by focusing on countering foreign disinformation campaigns. “The agency has gotten far off mission,” she told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. She emphasized the need for a “smaller, more nimble” CISA that would be more effective in addressing its primary responsibilities. Noem’s stance closely mirrors that of newly appointed committee chair Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and other Republicans who have criticized CISA’s efforts to combat misinformation during the 2020 election and the COVID-19 pandemic. Paul recently proposed slashing the agency’s budget and curbing its powers, alleging that its actions infringed on First Amendment rights by unfairly targeting conservative voices. In the final days of his first term, Trump fired CISA’s then-director, Chris Krebs, after the agency contradicted his claims of election fraud. CISA had issued statements affirming the integrity of the 2020 election, working with state and local officials to secure election infrastructure against cyber and physical threats. When asked by ranking member Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) about her cybersecurity priorities, Noem said CISA should focus on supporting critical infrastructure and assisting small businesses in mitigating cyberattacks. She described cybersecurity as a top priority in her opening statement but stressed a more limited scope for the agency. Noem also agreed with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) that CISA’s efforts to counter disinformation related to the 2020 election and COVID-19 were “shocking.” She expressed a willingness to collaborate on legislation to restrict the agency’s activities in this area. While Republicans have criticized CISA’s role in countering disinformation, its efforts in this area represent a small portion of the agency’s budget and operations. The Supreme Court has dismissed legal challenges claiming that CISA’s activities violated constitutional rights. Furthermore, the agency has scaled back its disinformation-related initiatives in recent years. As Noem moves closer to leading the Department of Homeland Security, her vision for CISA reflects a broader GOP push to redefine the agency’s mission and limit its reach.