Non-Profit Internet Security Agency Faces Staggering Federal Funding Cut

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut $8 million in funds for the Center for Internet Security (CIS), claiming it was a redundant and inefficient organization.

The Center for Internet Security is a nonprofit agency located in East Greenbush, New York. It provides services and tools to help people and organizations mitigate and prevent cyberthreats.

A fundamental component of the agency is the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), which offers cybersecurity expertise to over 15,000 agencies and local municipalities. MS-ISAC’s senior vice president, Carlos Kizzee, expressed great concern about the cut, claiming active efforts to find new funding solutions.

According to Kizzee, the $8 million budget cut is nearly half the total federal funds available. As a result, the services provided by CIS might be at risk, potentially impacting state and local agencies or businesses that rely on these services to operate securely.

Potential negative impacts:

• Increased cybersecurity responsibility for state and local governments.
• Elimination of free cybersecurity tools.
• MS-ISAC shutdown, resulting in a loss of timely threat intelligence, shared information, and a centralized hub for coordinating cybersecurity incidents.

Witnessing federal budget cuts to internet security programs in 2025 is troubling. A funding cut of this proportion can trigger serious consequences, such as delayed detection and mitigation of cyberattacks, increased cyber insurance costs, and more.

With the loss of essential services, like those offered by CIS, individuals must rely on cybersecurity best practices to protect themselves. For businesses, we recommend providing employees with cybersecurity training. This training, combined with an understanding of the core principles of cybersecurity for businesses, can be the difference between thriving and surviving.