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CISA Director Chris Krebs, one of the few Trump administration officials with widespread bipartisan credibility, is reportedly telling people that he expects to be fired by the White House.
Krebs has led election security efforts through 2018 and 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-krebs/senior-u-s-cybersecurity-official-tells-associates-he-expects-to-be-fired-sources-idUSKBN27S2WB?il=0
Krebs has led election security efforts through 2018 and 2020. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-krebs/senior-u-s-cybersecurity-official-tells-associates-he-expects-to-be-fired-sources-idUSKBN27S2WB?il=0
It's hard to overstate the impact that Krebs has had on the government's cybersecurity work over the past several years.
He's been able to steer his agency around the chaos and get things done with external partners who are repulsed by the rest of the Trump administration.
He's been able to steer his agency around the chaos and get things done with external partners who are repulsed by the rest of the Trump administration.
The Trump White House has essentially ignored CISA since it was created in 2018, but now that appears to be changing.
@Bing_Chris, who broke this story, also reported that today's resignation of one of Krebs' top deputies came under White House pressure: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-resignation/senior-u-s-cybersecurity-official-asked-to-resign-amid-trump-transition-tumult-idUSKBN27S2RW
@Bing_Chris, who broke this story, also reported that today's resignation of one of Krebs' top deputies came under White House pressure: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-resignation/senior-u-s-cybersecurity-official-asked-to-resign-amid-trump-transition-tumult-idUSKBN27S2RW
The timing of this news suggests that Trump may have finally discovered that CISA, and Krebs specifically, have been debunking the election misinformation that Republicans have embraced. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/10/dhs-fact-checking-trump-conspiracies-435821
Krebs is speaking now during a DHS cyber advisory committee meeting. Obviously he's not going to address this, but just wanted to mention it. He's not out yet.
White House officials have asked CISA to remove or change fact-checks posted on the agency's Rumor Control website, and the agency has refused, per @Bing_Chris and @josephmenn's reporting. https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27S2YI
Krebs just said this during an ongoing DHS National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee meeting:
"While our nation’s highest-profile election took place last week, our mission’s going to continue: to defend our democracy..."
He mentioned the Rumor Control page.
"While our nation’s highest-profile election took place last week, our mission’s going to continue: to defend our democracy..."
He mentioned the Rumor Control page.
Here's CISA's Rumor Control page, if you haven't seen it: https://www.cisa.gov/rumorcontrol
It has also been archived in case the White House orders it changed or deleted:
https://web.archive.org/web/20201112192500/https://www.cisa.gov/rumorcontrol https://archive.is/7yoxP
It has also been archived in case the White House orders it changed or deleted:
https://web.archive.org/web/20201112192500/https://www.cisa.gov/rumorcontrol https://archive.is/7yoxP
Just two weeks ago, Krebs told me that the White House hadn't interfered in CISA's election security work.
“There has not been any political manipulation or direction or interference with our operations,” he said.
Might no longer be true. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/03/top-election-defender-cybersecurity-433856
“There has not been any political manipulation or direction or interference with our operations,” he said.
Might no longer be true. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/03/top-election-defender-cybersecurity-433856
Krebs has always had to walk a strange tightrope, exhorting people to pay attention to Russian hacking and resist disinformation in ways that unavoidably amounted to implicit rebukes of Trump.
Every time we've asked him about this, he's carefully ducked the question.
Every time we've asked him about this, he's carefully ducked the question.
Latest tidbit from Reuters: the White House was especially angry at CISA for debunking the "Hammer and Scorecard" conspiracy theory.
Krebs has been particularly vocal in recent days about that one being false.
Krebs has been particularly vocal in recent days about that one being false.
I should say that I've heard from several sources that Reuters' scoop is correct and Krebs expects to be fired.
Rumor Control isn't the only reason, one source said. White House personnel office has wanted to fire Krebs for a while. "They’ve considered removing him before."
Rumor Control isn't the only reason, one source said. White House personnel office has wanted to fire Krebs for a while. "They’ve considered removing him before."
FWIW there is no indication that Krebs has been fired yet. My understanding is that he hasn't been, but I'm working to get more information. Seems like this person misread the reporting. https://twitter.com/JonathanBlitzer/status/1326990794054569998
Lawmakers weigh in on the prospect of Trump firing Krebs https://twitter.com/HomelandDems/status/1326985522561028097
https://twitter.com/MarkWarner/status/1326968820540575745 https://twitter.com/RonWyden/status/1327003304224645122
https://twitter.com/MarkWarner/status/1326968820540575745 https://twitter.com/RonWyden/status/1327003304224645122
From a former Trump transition official: Krebs "put his head down ... and did the country a tremendous service ... It’s a shame if some inexperienced staffers in the White House blinded by MAGA politics don’t see it that way."
. @C_Painter told me that Krebs "has been a great leader of DHS’ cyber programs and has been particularly effective in fighting election interference ... Firing him now makes no sense and just makes our response weaker."
From Obama WH cyber coordinator @CyAlliancePrez: "Firing Chris Krebs at this point makes no sense. ... It potentially opens a window that adversaries could take advantage of."
As I said, Krebs remains in his job for now. https://twitter.com/JonathanBlitzer/status/1327008780081651713
Little subtlety here.
Here is our story about
@CISAKrebs expecting to be fired by the White House over his election security work: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/12/cyber-official-chris-krebs-likely-out-436342
This is obviously a developing situation.
@CISAKrebs expecting to be fired by the White House over his election security work: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/12/cyber-official-chris-krebs-likely-out-436342
This is obviously a developing situation.
Hassan, a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, warns the Trump administration not to fire Krebs. https://twitter.com/SenatorHassan/status/1327022195692998656
For the record, 6:45 p.m. ET, Nov. 12, 2020:
"Chris Krebs is the Director of CISA," agency spokesperson Sara Sendek tells me.
"Chris Krebs is the Director of CISA," agency spokesperson Sara Sendek tells me.
"Republican lawmakers have praised Krebs’ work on cybersecurity and election security in the past. [Democratic Rep. Jim] Langevin called on them to speak up. Multiple Republican lawmakers’ offices did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday." https://twitter.com/snlyngaas/status/1327037166153846791
We're still updating our story about Krebs expecting to be fired for his election security work.
New detail: "Krebs withdrew from an event planned for early December without giving a reason, said a person familiar with the planning of that event." https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/12/cyber-official-chris-krebs-likely-out-436342
New detail: "Krebs withdrew from an event planned for early December without giving a reason, said a person familiar with the planning of that event." https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/12/cyber-official-chris-krebs-likely-out-436342
More new info from our updated story about Krebs possibly being fired by the WH:
He and his deputy can be fired at will, but he created the 3rd-ranking career position of exec director to deal with a situation like this, a U.S. official tells me.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/12/cyber-official-chris-krebs-likely-out-436342
He and his deputy can be fired at will, but he created the 3rd-ranking career position of exec director to deal with a situation like this, a U.S. official tells me.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/12/cyber-official-chris-krebs-likely-out-436342
