Acting Secretary Benjamine C. Huffman, in a memo issued on January 20, 2025, emphasized the government's commitment to eliminating resource misuse while prioritizing national security. "In alignment with DHS’s mission to enhance national security, I am directing the termination of all current memberships on advisory committees within DHS, effective immediately," Huffman stated. "Future committee activities will focus exclusively on advancing our critical mission to safeguard the homeland and uphold DHS’s strategic priorities."
This sweeping move impacts various DHS bodies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB). CSRB, which recently issued a detailed report in 2024, criticized Microsoft for a series of errors that allowed the Chinese-based hacker group Storm-0558 to exploit vulnerabilities and breach numerous organizations. The board also examined vulnerabilities like Log4Shell, detailing how they continue to haunt organizations and outlining ongoing mitigation efforts.
Established in February 2022, CSRB has been instrumental in assessing major cybersecurity incidents and recommending improvements to cybersecurity practices and incident response. However, following this termination, it is unclear how the investigatory body will be restructured.
Independent security journalist Eric Geller reported that CSRB had been actively investigating a wave of cyberattacks on U.S. telecom providers, attributed to the Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon. The abrupt dissolution of advisory boards has raised alarms about the future of ongoing investigations.
Other disbanded advisory boards include the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board, Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council, National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, National Infrastructure Advisory Council, and the USSS Cyber Investigations Advisory Board.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden criticized the termination, suggesting that the dissolution of these boards could empower adversaries like Chinese hackers. "This is a massive gift to the Chinese spies who targeted top political figures," Wyden said, referencing the disruption of the board that had pushed Microsoft to improve cybersecurity following high-profile incidents. "It looks like payback for Microsoft's million-dollar donation to Trump’s inaugural committee."
Additionally, President Donald Trump has revoked the Biden administration’s executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) safety, which aimed to ensure the secure and trustworthy development of AI technologies.
As cybersecurity experts continue to monitor the unfolding situation, the impact of these terminations on national security and cyber defense remains uncertain.
