The Trump administration has announced the termination of all memberships on advisory committees associated with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In a memo dated January 20, 2025, Acting Secretary Benjamine C. Huffman emphasized the DHS’s commitment to resource management and prioritizing national security. The memo states, “Effective immediately, all current memberships on advisory committees within DHS will be terminated.” Future endeavors, according to Huffman, will strictly focus on advancing DHS’s core mission of homeland protection and strategic priorities.
This decision impacts members of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which previously issued a critical report addressing Microsoft’s mishaps that allowed a nation-state group known as Storm-0558 to exploit vulnerabilities in July 2023.
In previous assessments, the CSRB highlighted flaws in the Apache Log4j library and addressed the persistent threat posed by the Log4Shell vulnerability, deeming it a long-term concern for organizations. Furthermore, the board scrutinized the activities of the LAPSUS$ cybercrime group, praising its innovative tactics and rapid execution.
Founded in February 2022 as a collaboration between public and private sectors, the CSRB was responsible for analyzing significant cybersecurity incidents and recommending improvements. The process for restructuring this body remains uncertain at this time.
Independent security journalist Eric Geller noted that the CSRB was conducting an investigation into recent cyberattacks against U.S. telecom providers by a Chinese hacking group identified as Salt Typhoon.
Other advisory groups disbanded include the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board and the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council. Senator Ron Wyden criticized the move, labeling it a significant boon to Chinese espionage efforts, while raising concerns about potential ties between the disbandment and Microsoft’s prior donation to Trump’s inaugural committee. Additionally, President Trump has rolled back an executive order from the Biden administration regarding AI safety, which aimed to ensure the responsible development of the technology.
