Defense Department Secretary orders West Point to revoke the appointment of the Biden administration's cybersecurity director.
In a recent development, Jen Easterly, a West Point graduate and former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) under President Joe Biden, has been removed from the Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair in West Point's social sciences department. This decision was made following public criticism from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who accused Easterly of undermining the Trump administration.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has been directed by the Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, to review its hiring practices. Secretary Driscoll shared this directive on social platform X. Loomer, who posted about Easterly's new role on the same platform, argued that "Biden holdovers" at the Defense Department were undermining Trump's administration.
Easterly's tenure as the director of CISA was marked by controversy, particularly due to the agency's efforts to combat misinformation about the 2020 election and COVID-19. Some Republicans viewed these actions as censorship, a perception that has been part of broader GOP efforts to reduce the influence of agencies and officials perceived as politically biased against conservatives.
However, it's important to note that the directive from the Secretary of the Army does not seem to be a continuation of these efforts to control ideology and leadership in higher education and the military. Instead, the focus appears to be on preparing future officers for the demands of the modern battlefield, rather than on controlling ideology or leadership.
The Army spokesperson stated that the directive is aimed at ensuring future officers are best prepared for the demands of the modern battlefield ahead of the new academic year. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell clarified that the directive is not about turning cadets into censorship activists, but rather focusing on warfighting and leadership.
Easterly, who led the nation's cybersecurity agency, responded to her removal by stating that the decision was a result of "manufactured outrage," emphasizing her commitment as a West Point graduate and veteran to serve above politics and uphold the Constitution. She highlighted the importance of the military remaining an institution "above politics" and warned that weaponizing outrage harms unity and the values that motivate service members.
In a twist of events, Trump, who has made false claims to create doubt about the integrity of elections in recent years, has not been directly linked to the directive or Easterly's removal. The directive does not seem to be a reaction to any false claims about election integrity or COVID-19 pandemic misinformation, as earlier stated.
As the situation unfolds, it's clear that the controversy surrounding Easterly and CISA's work has sparked a broader debate about the role of government agencies in combating misinformation and the impact of political pressure on such decisions. Easterly, an Army combat veteran, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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