Homeland Security Chief Fires 23 FEMA Employees Over Cybersecurity Breach

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem fired 24 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) IT employees, including senior leaders, on August 29, 2025, following a routine cybersecurity review that uncovered severe vulnerabilities in FEMA’s network, DHS announced. The lapses, which included a lack of multi-factor authentication, use of prohibited protocols, and failure to address known security gaps, allowed a “threat actor” to access FEMA’s systems, though no sensitive data was extracted, and no Americans were directly impacted, according to a DHS statement.

The cybersecurity breach, detected during a DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer review, posed a potential threat to the entire Department and the nation, Noem stated. She accused FEMA’s IT staff of “incompetence” and obstructing efforts to resolve the issue, alleging they avoided inspections and misrepresented the extent of the vulnerabilities. “These deep-state individuals were more interested in covering up their failures than in protecting the Homeland and American citizens’ personal data,” Noem said, justifying the immediate terminations.

The firings are part of the Trump administration’s broader push to downsize the federal workforce and align agencies with its policy goals. FEMA has faced significant restructuring, with approximately 200 probationary employees terminated across the agency. The cuts extend beyond FEMA, with 130 employees let go from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and 50 from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), raising concerns about the agencies’ operational capacities.

Critics, including former FEMA employees, warn that the dismissals, combined with a hiring freeze extended through the end of 2025, could impair FEMA’s ability to respond to disasters, especially as hurricane season intensifies. An open letter signed by scores of current and former FEMA staff highlighted the risks of inexperienced leadership, drawing parallels to the agency’s struggles during Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago. A CNN investigation into prior FEMA terminations in February 2025 revealed that some fired employees believed they were following administration directives, suggesting potential miscommunications.

Noem’s actions follow months of tension with FEMA leadership, including earlier firings prompted by claims from Elon Musk on X that FEMA misused funds for migrant housing. DHS has also conducted polygraph tests on high-ranking FEMA officials to investigate media leaks, signaling a broader crackdown. As the Trump administration continues its overhaul, including plans to potentially eliminate FEMA, the agency faces growing scrutiny over its ability to maintain effective disaster response amidst staffing and cybersecurity challenges.