Cyber professionals advocate for Trump to halt examination of Chris Krebs' case
In a bold move, dozens of cybersecurity experts have signed a letter urging the Trump administration to abandon the ongoing investigation into former CISA Director Chris Krebs. The letter, organized by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), emphasizes the importance of an independent information security community for the protection of democracy and the cybersecurity profession.
The signatories, which include voting-security experts, computer-science professors, tech executives, and security researchers, believe that their professional obligation to report truthful findings is a necessary part of improving cybersecurity. They argue that if any cyber expert is targeted for their work, it could impact the entire community.
The investigation of Chris Krebs, who was removed from his position after publicly stating that the 2020 presidential election was "the most secure in American history," is seen as a chilling effect on current government officials' ability to protect future elections. The preponderance of election security experts who signed the letter reflects deep concerns within the cybersecurity community about the potential impact of the Krebs investigation.
The letter also underscores the need for unity among cyber experts to prevent any targeted attacks on their colleagues. It states that allowing cybersecurity professionals to report truthfully on systems without political pressure is essential for securing systems and protecting democracy.
Jen Easterly, Krebs' successor, has criticized industry leaders for staying quiet, writing on LinkedIn that the silence was "deafening." Few tech or cybersecurity executives have spoken up to defend Krebs until now. However, the new letter represents the first high-profile pushback to Trump's April 9 executive order targeting Krebs.
The executive order stripped Krebs' security clearance, paused the clearances of others at his then-employer SentinelOne, and ordered an investigation of CISA's activities. The reason given for the investigation is retribution for Krebs' assertion that the 2020 election was fair and secure.
The letter concludes by expressing the signatories' view that their professional obligation is to report truthful findings, even when they do not align with the interests of powerful actors. This high-profile pushback to the Trump administration's investigation into Chris Krebs highlights the ongoing importance of independent cybersecurity expertise in protecting democracy.
- The cybersecurity experts who signed the letter, organized by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, believe that their professional obligation to report truthful findings is crucial for improving cybersecurity and the protection of democracy.
- The investigation of Chris Krebs, who was removed for stating that the 2020 presidential election was secure, is perceived as a chilling effect on current government officials' ability to protect future elections, with election security experts voicing deep concerns within the cybersecurity community.
- The letter emphasizes the need for unity among cybersecurity experts to prevent targeted attacks on their colleagues and underscores the essential role of allowing cybersecurity professionals to report truthfully on systems without political pressure in securing systems and protecting democracy.
