CISA Faces Staffing Crisis After 76-Day Government Shutdown

• •CISA lost 1,100 employees during a 76-day government shutdown.
• •The shutdown was triggered by a push for immigration reform after two U.S. citizen deaths.
• •DHS faces operational challenges and morale issues due to significant staffing losses.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) lost approximately 1,100 employees during a 76-day partial government shutdown that ended on April 30, 2026. The shutdown, which began on February 14, was initiated due to a Democratic-led push for immigration reform following the deaths of two U.S. citizens. The staffing losses have raised concerns about CISA's operational capacity and morale, as the agency also faces a leadership gap after President Trump's nominee to lead CISA withdrew. Other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), have also reported staffing declines. Although Congress has approved funding to reopen DHS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) remain unfunded, complicating recovery efforts. Mullin emphasized the importance of maintaining operations despite these challenges, stating that the mission of protecting the homeland remains paramount.