{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://walkinshaw.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=838", "Walkinshaw, Ranking Member Thompson, Ramirez Introduce Bill to Strengthen Oversight of CISA\u2019s Cyber Workforce", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "James R. Walkinshaw", "W000831", "walkinshaw.house.gov", "walkinshaw", "https://walkinshaw.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Recently, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee Ranking Member Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) introduced the CISA Force Structure Assessment Act.\n\nSince President Trump took office, nearly 1,000 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) employees have been fired, sidelined, or pushed out, hollowing out roughly one-third of the nation\u2019s leading civilian cyber defense agency. His administration has also cut critical programs and disrupted partnerships that help government and industry share information about cyber threats. The CISA Force Structure Assessment Act would require the Director of CISA to determine whether, after these sweeping cuts, the agency still has the personnel, training, certifications, and resources needed to protect federal networks, support state and local governments, and secure critical infrastructure.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s cyber defenses are only as strong as the people behind them,\u201d said Congressman Walkinshaw. \u201cAs cyber threats grow more sophisticated and technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing reshape the threat landscape, Congress needs a clear accounting of whether CISA has the workforce, skills, and resources required to keep Americans safe and enable mission delivery. This legislation will identify critical gaps and give Congress concrete information to address them.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith Iran targeting our critical infrastructure and frontier AI models creating new cyber risks, we must ensure we have a cybersecurity workforce to counter these growing threats,\u201d said Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson. \u201cAfter Trump has spent the past two years targeting and slashing CISA\u2019s workforce, we need the agency to assess if it has right personnel in place to fulfill its mission. I thank Congressman Walkinshaw for introducing this necessary legislation to do exactly that.\u201d\n\n\"Between the security failures of DOGE, the abuses of immigrant families\u2019 data, and the decimation of CISA\u2019s workforce and resources, the Trump administration and my Republican colleagues have demonstrated a lack of interest in safeguarding our nation\u2019s cybersecurity and our residents\u2019 civil rights and privacy. And as Americans grow more concerned about the threats of AI models, it is more critical than ever that we expand and safeguard the workforce to protect America's cybersecurity,\" said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez. \"The CISA Force Structure Assessment Act will help Congress better understand how we can strengthen CISA's workforce to ensure the agency meets its mission of keeping our communities safe.\"\n\nThe CISA Force Structure Assessment Act would require the CISA Director to conduct an assessment of the agency\u2019s ability to fulfill its mission with current staffing levels and resources. The assessment includes :\n\nWorkforce training and industry-recognized certifications;\n\nSecurity of federal information systems and support for state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments;\n\nRisks associated with artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and other emerging technologies;\n\nThreat-hunting and cyber incident response capabilities;\n\nSupport for critical infrastructure and operational technology; and\n\nCybersecurity cooperation with international allies and partners.\n\nCISA would be required to consult with federal agencies, state and local governments, information-sharing organizations, critical infrastructure partners, and other stakeholders.\n\nWithin one year of enactment, CISA would report its findings to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, including recommendations to address personnel, resource, training, and certification gaps.\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://walkinshaw.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=838"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8811140432953835, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}