Congress moves to rehire fired cybersecurity agency staff, blocks DOGE access
H.R. 3026 — Protecting America’s Cybersecurity Act · Filed by Norma Torres (D-CA) · Introduced Apr 24, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill reinstates CISA employees who were fired between January 25 and March 1, 2025, with back pay, and blocks the use of federal funds to pay DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) staff working at CISA. It also prevents involuntary removal or transfer of CISA employees unless Congress passes a new law, with narrow exceptions for political appointees and those fired for misconduct.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to reinstate fired federal employees and restrict future removals at CISA, plus block DOGE funding at the agency. It is fundamentally about internal federal workforce governance and inter-agency resource control, not substantive cybersecurity policy.
- Section 3 (DOGE funding ban at CISA) is substantively unrelated to reinstatement of fired employees. It is a separate policy restricting one agency's ability to detail staff to another.
What the text implies
- The bill does not define what triggered the January 25–March 1 removals, leaving the public unable to assess whether reinstatement serves the public interest or reverses legitimate personnel actions.
- The DOGE funding restriction may signal internal executive-branch conflict over CISA's independence and mission, but the bill does not explain the policy rationale for excluding DOGE staff.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
CISA employees (back pay and job security); Cybersecurity consulting firms (potential indirect benefit if CISA retains experienced staff)