CISA Navigates DHS Shutdown With Reduced Staff

Work to finalize the CIRCIA cyber incident reporting rule will likely be halted because it is regulatory work and not directly related to national security or active cybersecurity threats.The KEV Catalog, however, lists exploited vulnerabilities that FCEB agencies (effectively, the critical industries) are required to patch. Theexisting KEV Catalogwill remain online through the shutdown. A new and currently exploited vulnerability targeting critical industries and potentially harming life, property or national security would be excepted from the Antideficiency Act – and could be added to the existing KEV Catalog.The remaining smaller workforce will need to find the time and prioritize what to do. Updating the KEV is time intensive. CISA analysts need to validate the exploitation, understand the availability of a patch, and liaise with federal agencies. Reaction is likely to be slower, even for excepted vulnerability reporting. Recognition and inclusion of older vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the past would likely be given less priority and be delayed.Enforcing FCEB compliance with KEV would probably not be an excepted operation. Issuing reminders and enforcement notices would be prohibited. So, while the KEV will continue, oversight of critical industries’ compliance with it would be at least weakened if not halted.Since CISA’s work is primarily to raise and ensure the cybersecurity of FCEB agencies, extending to the critical infrastructure, its work (or during the shutdown, its lack of work) could be considered as not directly affecting general private-sector businesses. This is partly, but only partly, true. CIRCIA, for example, is only relevant to the critical industries within CISA’s remit.The KEV, however, with its online availability to everyone, has become a primary source of vulnerability remediation information for all cybersecurity practitioners, and will continue to be updated and will remain important to all global businesses. The lights will remain on in CISA during the shutdown, but with fewer operational bulbs.Meanwhile, as acting CISA leader Madhu Gottumukkala recently commented, “When the government shuts down, our adversaries do not.”Related:New Paper and Tool Help Security Teams Move Beyond Blind Reliance on CISA’s KEV CatalogRelated:CISA KEV Catalog Expanded 20% in 2025, Topping 1,480 EntriesRelated:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

The KEV Catalog, however, lists exploited vulnerabilities that FCEB agencies (effectively, the critical industries) are required to patch. Theexisting KEV Catalogwill remain online through the shutdown. A new and currently exploited vulnerability targeting critical industries and potentially harming life, property or national security would be excepted from the Antideficiency Act – and could be added to the existing KEV Catalog.The remaining smaller workforce will need to find the time and prioritize what to do. Updating the KEV is time intensive. CISA analysts need to validate the exploitation, understand the availability of a patch, and liaise with federal agencies. Reaction is likely to be slower, even for excepted vulnerability reporting. Recognition and inclusion of older vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the past would likely be given less priority and be delayed.Enforcing FCEB compliance with KEV would probably not be an excepted operation. Issuing reminders and enforcement notices would be prohibited. So, while the KEV will continue, oversight of critical industries’ compliance with it would be at least weakened if not halted.Since CISA’s work is primarily to raise and ensure the cybersecurity of FCEB agencies, extending to the critical infrastructure, its work (or during the shutdown, its lack of work) could be considered as not directly affecting general private-sector businesses. This is partly, but only partly, true. CIRCIA, for example, is only relevant to the critical industries within CISA’s remit.The KEV, however, with its online availability to everyone, has become a primary source of vulnerability remediation information for all cybersecurity practitioners, and will continue to be updated and will remain important to all global businesses. The lights will remain on in CISA during the shutdown, but with fewer operational bulbs.Meanwhile, as acting CISA leader Madhu Gottumukkala recently commented, “When the government shuts down, our adversaries do not.”Related:New Paper and Tool Help Security Teams Move Beyond Blind Reliance on CISA’s KEV CatalogRelated:CISA KEV Catalog Expanded 20% in 2025, Topping 1,480 EntriesRelated:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

The remaining smaller workforce will need to find the time and prioritize what to do. Updating the KEV is time intensive. CISA analysts need to validate the exploitation, understand the availability of a patch, and liaise with federal agencies. Reaction is likely to be slower, even for excepted vulnerability reporting. Recognition and inclusion of older vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the past would likely be given less priority and be delayed.Enforcing FCEB compliance with KEV would probably not be an excepted operation. Issuing reminders and enforcement notices would be prohibited. So, while the KEV will continue, oversight of critical industries’ compliance with it would be at least weakened if not halted.Since CISA’s work is primarily to raise and ensure the cybersecurity of FCEB agencies, extending to the critical infrastructure, its work (or during the shutdown, its lack of work) could be considered as not directly affecting general private-sector businesses. This is partly, but only partly, true. CIRCIA, for example, is only relevant to the critical industries within CISA’s remit.The KEV, however, with its online availability to everyone, has become a primary source of vulnerability remediation information for all cybersecurity practitioners, and will continue to be updated and will remain important to all global businesses. The lights will remain on in CISA during the shutdown, but with fewer operational bulbs.Meanwhile, as acting CISA leader Madhu Gottumukkala recently commented, “When the government shuts down, our adversaries do not.”Related:New Paper and Tool Help Security Teams Move Beyond Blind Reliance on CISA’s KEV CatalogRelated:CISA KEV Catalog Expanded 20% in 2025, Topping 1,480 EntriesRelated:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

Enforcing FCEB compliance with KEV would probably not be an excepted operation. Issuing reminders and enforcement notices would be prohibited. So, while the KEV will continue, oversight of critical industries’ compliance with it would be at least weakened if not halted.Since CISA’s work is primarily to raise and ensure the cybersecurity of FCEB agencies, extending to the critical infrastructure, its work (or during the shutdown, its lack of work) could be considered as not directly affecting general private-sector businesses. This is partly, but only partly, true. CIRCIA, for example, is only relevant to the critical industries within CISA’s remit.The KEV, however, with its online availability to everyone, has become a primary source of vulnerability remediation information for all cybersecurity practitioners, and will continue to be updated and will remain important to all global businesses. The lights will remain on in CISA during the shutdown, but with fewer operational bulbs.Meanwhile, as acting CISA leader Madhu Gottumukkala recently commented, “When the government shuts down, our adversaries do not.”Related:New Paper and Tool Help Security Teams Move Beyond Blind Reliance on CISA’s KEV CatalogRelated:CISA KEV Catalog Expanded 20% in 2025, Topping 1,480 EntriesRelated:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

Since CISA’s work is primarily to raise and ensure the cybersecurity of FCEB agencies, extending to the critical infrastructure, its work (or during the shutdown, its lack of work) could be considered as not directly affecting general private-sector businesses. This is partly, but only partly, true. CIRCIA, for example, is only relevant to the critical industries within CISA’s remit.The KEV, however, with its online availability to everyone, has become a primary source of vulnerability remediation information for all cybersecurity practitioners, and will continue to be updated and will remain important to all global businesses. The lights will remain on in CISA during the shutdown, but with fewer operational bulbs.Meanwhile, as acting CISA leader Madhu Gottumukkala recently commented, “When the government shuts down, our adversaries do not.”Related:New Paper and Tool Help Security Teams Move Beyond Blind Reliance on CISA’s KEV CatalogRelated:CISA KEV Catalog Expanded 20% in 2025, Topping 1,480 EntriesRelated:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

The KEV, however, with its online availability to everyone, has become a primary source of vulnerability remediation information for all cybersecurity practitioners, and will continue to be updated and will remain important to all global businesses. The lights will remain on in CISA during the shutdown, but with fewer operational bulbs.Meanwhile, as acting CISA leader Madhu Gottumukkala recently commented, “When the government shuts down, our adversaries do not.”Related:New Paper and Tool Help Security Teams Move Beyond Blind Reliance on CISA’s KEV CatalogRelated:CISA KEV Catalog Expanded 20% in 2025, Topping 1,480 EntriesRelated:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

Meanwhile, as acting CISA leader Madhu Gottumukkala recently commented, “When the government shuts down, our adversaries do not.”Related:New Paper and Tool Help Security Teams Move Beyond Blind Reliance on CISA’s KEV CatalogRelated:CISA KEV Catalog Expanded 20% in 2025, Topping 1,480 EntriesRelated:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

Related:New Paper and Tool Help Security Teams Move Beyond Blind Reliance on CISA’s KEV CatalogRelated:CISA KEV Catalog Expanded 20% in 2025, Topping 1,480 EntriesRelated:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

Related:CISA KEV Catalog Expanded 20% in 2025, Topping 1,480 EntriesRelated:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

Related:Exploitation Long Known for Most of CISA’s Latest KEV AdditionsRelated:Financial Organizations Urge CISA to Revise Proposed CIRCIA Implementation

Source: SecurityWeek