What happens when the federal cyber workforce shrinks just as threats are multiplying? In this episode, Federal News Network’s Justin Doubleday joins host Frank Cilluffo to unpack the turbulence facing government agencies. They examine the mass departures at CISA, the controversial firings under DHS’s Cyber Talent Management System, and the looming risks of dismantling ODNI’s cyber intelligence hub. Doubleday also shares a chilling story of how El Chapo’s cartel used spyware and hacked city cameras to compromise FBI operations in Mexico—underscoring the new reality of ubiquitous surveillance. The conversation closes with a look at the Pentagon’s long-awaited CMMC rollout, Treasury’s “Do Not Pay” database, and the broader challenge of protecting both privacy and security in a digital age.

Main Topics Covered

• Why CISA lost a third of its workforce and what that means for U.S. cyber defense
• How probationary firings under DHS’s Cyber Talent Management System shook trust in federal hiring
• The implications of ODNI shutting down its cyber intelligence integration center amid deep budget cuts
• Proposals in Congress to speed up security clearances and retain cleared talent longer
• A chilling account of how El Chapo’s cartel hacked FBI operations using spyware and city surveillance
• What the rollout of DoD’s CMMC rules will mean for defense contractors and future cyber regulations
• How Treasury’s “Do Not Pay” database ties into fraud prevention, privacy concerns, and the future of digital identity

Key Quotes

“A lot of [the departed federal cyber workforce is] on the books until October 1st and so we're kind of waiting to see exactly how many folks left and where the dust kind of settles as we get into the fall.” – Justin Doubleday

“The probationary firings certainly cast a little bit of a negative light on the idea of joining the Cyber Talent Management System, because… you could be fired with a snap of a finger.” – Justin Doubleday

“Commercial spyware is much more easily accessible for a range of groups and individuals. And it's almost impossible to detect when spyware has gotten onto a phone of an individual, even for a cyber expert.” – Justin Doubleday

“I think there's concern that [with ODNI shutting down CTIIC] you're now going to go back to a situation where you have disparate views kind of bubbling up from across the intelligence community and you don't have that single source of truth at the top that's helping to sort things out for leaders.” – Justin Doubleday

“As it goes with technology and cybersecurity, things are often nice to have until they're necessary.” – Justin Doubleday

Relevant Links and Resources

Cyber pay in government is as fragmented as ever https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-report/2024/09/cyber-pay-in-government-is-as-fragmented-as-ever/

CISA at a crossroads amid workforce cuts, pause, partnerships https://federalnewsnetwork.com/cybersecurity/2025/06/cisa-at-a-crossroads-amid-workforce-cuts-pause-partnerships/

Security clearance reforms advancing in 2026 defense bill https://federalnewsnetwork.com/inside-ic/2025/08/security-clearance-reforms-advancing-in-2026-defense-bill/

How a hacker for El Chapo illustrates existential counterintelligence threats https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-report/2025/07/how-a-hacker-for-el-chapo-illustrates-existential-counterintelligence-threats/

Grand odyssey of CMMC nearing implementation https://federalnewsnetwork.com/cybersecurity/2025/08/grand-odyssey-of-cmmc-nearing-implementation/

OMB directs agencies to address Do Not Pay data gaps https://federalnewsnetwork.com/financial-management/2025/08/omb-directs-agencies-to-address-do-not-pay-data-gaps/

Guest Bio

Justin Doubleday is a reporter for Federal News Network covering cybersecurity, intelligence, and technology policy. He tracks how federal agencies and lawmakers address evolving digital threats, insider risks, and the intersection of policy, procurement, and national security.