FEMA Shakeup! Noem Fires Dozens Over HUGE Cyber Security Lapses!
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has fired two dozen Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) IT employees, including top-level leaders, over alleged cybersecurity breaches. The move comes after a routine cybersecurity review revealed significant vulnerabilities in FEMA's network.
According to a DHS press release, the review uncovered major flaws that allowed a “threat actor” to breach FEMA’s network. While the breach was detected before any sensitive data was extracted, an investigation revealed that security lapses enabled the intrusion. The DHS, which oversees FEMA, has been contacted for further details.
'Incompetence' and Cover-Up Allegations
Secretary Noem didn't mince words, criticizing FEMA’s IT leadership for what she called “incompetence.” She accused them of downplaying the severity of the breach and obstructing DHS efforts to resolve the issues.
“These deep-state individuals were more interested in covering up their failures than in protecting the Homeland and American citizens’ personal data, so I terminated them immediately,” Noem stated. The firings sent shockwaves through FEMA, with some longtime officials defending the ousted leaders as “extremely competent” and “highly respected.”
Clash with FEMA Leadership
Reports indicate that Noem and DHS officials have been clashing with FEMA leadership for months amidst the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul the disaster relief agency. DHS alleges that the fired employees resisted fixes, avoided inspections, and lied to officials about the extent of the cyber vulnerabilities.
- Lack of multi-factor authentication
- Use of prohibited protocols
- Failure to address known security gaps
These failures were cited as key reasons for the drastic action. This isn't the first time Noem has taken such action; similar firings occurred in February after Elon Musk tweeted about alleged misuse of federal funds by FEMA.