The long-lasting impact of cyber job cuts

Cuts to the federal cyber workforce are likely to have long-lasting effects on the government's efforts to recruit and retain future generations of talent, experts told Axios at an event Wednesday.

Why it matters: The cybersecurity industry as a whole already had only enough cyber workers to fill 83% of available jobs, according to federal data.

• The federal government wasn't immune to the shortage.

What they're saying: "What [the administration] is doing to undermine future generations of people, younger or not, who might be interested in working in a space like the government, it's really scary," Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), a member of House Intelligence and Armed Services committees, told me on stage.

• "We've just discouraged them completely from ever being involved."

Driving the news: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency cut more than 130 positions this month during broad government cuts of probationary workers.

• The cuts came after the agency placed six employees who worked on counter election disinformation on leave.

The big picture: People have typically come to the government because of its mission and the promise of a stable job with decent benefits. Now, that promise is being turned upside down, Houlahan said.

Zoom in: Chris Krebs, the director of CISA during the first Trump administration, also said on stage that the cuts at his former agency "resonate with me personally."

• Krebs noted that while it's natural for any new administration to come in and review the posture of each department and its agencies, CISA needs to be as strong as possible to battle intensifying cyber threats.
• "The [cyber] threats we're going to face tomorrow are tenfold what the threats were yesterday," he warned.

• Jen Easterly, former President Biden's CISA director, spearheaded an effort on LinkedIn this week to help match ex-CISA employees with interested employers.

Reality check: Federal cyber defenders told Krebs they're sticking around because of their dedication to the mission.

• "There are folks who work in the government that I have tried to hire into the private sector, and they're like, 'You know what? Money's great. This mission is better,'" he said.

What we're watching: The White House has requested agencies make plans for massive reductions in force in about two weeks.

Catch the rest of my interviews, as well as a panel with the creators and showrunners of Netflix's new "Zero Day" series, here.