The Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) investigatory body established under a Biden-era executive order to probe major cybersecurity incidents, has been stripped of its non-government members as part of a Trump administration cost-cutting initiative, according to sources familiar with the decision.
Among those no longer on the CSRB is Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and now chief intelligence and public policy officer at SentinelOne. Krebs was previously fired by Trump in 2020 after he declared the presidential election results secure.
A January 20 memo from Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman directed the immediate termination of all memberships on advisory committees within the department. “In alignment with DHS’s commitment to eliminating the misuse of resources and ensuring that DHS activities prioritize our national security, I am directing the termination of all current memberships on advisory committees within DHS, effective immediately,” the memo read.
The CSRB, along with several other advisory bodies, was affected by this sweeping directive. “Future committee activities will focus solely on advancing our critical mission to protect the homeland and support DHS’s strategic priorities. To outgoing advisory board members, you are welcome to reapply. Thank you for your service,” the internal notice added. NPR first reported the memorandum.
The CSRB’s work has included high-profile investigations into major cyber incidents, including the ongoing probe into the Salt Typhoon hacks—a wide-ranging Chinese infiltration targeting U.S. telecom providers, political figures, and international entities. This shake-up is expected to delay that investigation, as the board will need to restructure under the new administration.
