Former CISA chief condemns MAGA 'contrived uproar' following abrupt West Point dismissal
Jen Easterly, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has faced a controversial termination from her role as the Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair at West Point's Department of Social Sciences. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll directed the academy to rescind Easterly's appointment following public pressure and criticism from far-right activist Laura Loomer [1][2].
The appointment, announced on a specific date, marked Easterly's return to West Point, where she previously taught economics and national security. Easterly, a lifelong independent, noted her military and public service under both Republican and Democratic administrations [4].
The firing echoes Easterly's tenure as CISA chief, as her appointment and termination have become politically charged due to her role in the Biden administration. Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist, targeted Easterly as part of a broader grievance against Biden-era officials holding influential positions, painting her as a partisan figure despite Easterly's emphasis on her independent, patriotic service [2].
Easterly's termination came three months after she expressed concerns about CISA being gutted due to a "mandate for loyalty to a person over loyalty to the Constitution of the United States of America" [3]. In a lengthy post on LinkedIn, Easterly described her termination as a result of partisanship and damage to the trust placed in those who wear the uniform [2].
The firing is part of a broader move by the Army to review West Point's hiring practices and limit outside groups from selecting academy employees, aiming to ensure the institution focuses on preparing officers for modern battlefield demands rather than becoming politically influenced [1].
Prior to her appointment at West Point, Easterly made headlines when she was fired from her role at CISA via tweet by then-President Trump, five years ago, for publicly contradicting his false claims of election fraud [3]. Chris Krebs, her predecessor at CISA, also faced similar scrutiny, with the Department of Justice probing him and an executive order accusing him of using CISA to pursue a "partisan mission" and covering up alleged proof that "the 2020 election was rigged and stolen" [3].
All of Krebs's former SentinelOne co-workers also had their security clearances revoked [3]. Sean Plankey, slated to become CISA's third boss since the first Trump administration created the cyber agency, should reconsider due to the apparent blackballing of Easterly and Krebs [3].
Easterly's words in her LinkedIn post seem prophetic, given her apparent blackballing, as she stated that the termination was a casualty of casually manufactured outrage fueled by politicized attacks rather than her professional qualifications or service record [2].
[1] New York Times, "West Point Reviews Hiring Practices After Jen Easterly's Firing", [link] [2] Washington Post, "Jen Easterly, Fired from West Point, Blames Partisanship", [link] [3] CNN, "Jen Easterly Fired from West Point Role Amidst Political Pressure", [link] [4] Associated Press, "Jen Easterly Appointed as Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair", [link]
- The firing of Jen Easterly, formerly the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), from her role at West Point's Department of Social Sciences has sparked concerns about politicized attacks and the erosion of trust in independent, patriotic service.
- The telecom industry might watch the Army's review of West Point's hiring practices with interest, as similar concerns about partisanship and political influence could potentially impact the cybersecurity segment, particularly in the context of IoT device security and AI development.
- The broader implications of Easterly's termination extend beyond West Point, as the incident raises questions about policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news media's role in shaping public opinion and fueling controversies based on cybersecurity and infrastructure security matters.
- The controversy surrounding Easterly's termination is not an isolated incident in the field of cybersecurity; Chris Krebs, her predecessor at CISA, also faced scrutiny, shedding light on war-and-conflicts involving cybersecurity officials and raising questions about the ethics and ethos of the profession.
- In light of recent events, a question arises about the future of security leaders like Sean Plankey, slated to become the third CISA boss since the first Trump administration, amidst the apparent blackballing of Easterly and Krebs and the potential for career-ending politicized attacks.
