Trump Administration Proposes Major Cuts to Cybersecurity and Science Agencies

The Trump administration has unveiled its fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, calling for significant cuts to key technology and science agencies, most notably a $707 million reduction in funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

The proposed CISA cuts would further strain an agency already operating with nearly 1,000 fewer staff than it had in January 2025. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the reduction aims to “refocus CISA on its core mission while eliminating weaponization and waste.”

The budget document specifically criticizes CISA, stating the agency “was more focused on censorship than on protecting the Nation’s critical systems, and put them at risk due to poor management and inefficiency, as well as a focus on self-promotion.” This language echoes statements made last year by former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who accused CISA of infringing on First Amendment rights during the 2024 elections.

Noem previously targeted CISA’s election-focused entities that combated misinformation and propaganda, which were shut down last spring. She told lawmakers in May that CISA was “back on mission” after eliminating components that allegedly detracted from the agency’s core functions.

The budget proposal does not provide specific details about which “so-called misinformation and propaganda” programs would be eliminated, but suggests some funding cuts target offices that duplicate “existing and effective programs” at state and federal levels.

Interestingly, the budget appendix shows a smaller cut to CISA of around $360 million, creating a discrepancy with the primary budget document. Regardless, either reduction would significantly impact the agency’s operations.

This marks the second consecutive year of proposed cuts to CISA, following the FY2026 proposal that included a $491 million reduction. That earlier proposal faced bipartisan pushback, with lawmakers favoring a much smaller cut of $134 million.

CISA’s funding situation remains precarious. As part of DHS, the agency has been operating without a full-year appropriations bill for FY2026, instead relying on continuing resolutions and temporary measures since October 2025. The current DHS shutdown is tied to ongoing disputes over immigration enforcement funding.

The proposal also targets the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), reducing its budget by $52 million to begin “the privatization of TSA’s airport screeners.” According to the administration, this would “yield cost savings compared to Federal screening and begin reform of a troubled Federal agency.”

The timing of these proposed TSA cuts is particularly challenging, as the agency’s workers have gone without pay for multiple periods during late 2025 and spring 2026. This has resulted in high absenteeism and resignations, according to recent congressional testimony from TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill. President Trump ordered last week that TSA employees be paid despite the shutdown.

Under the proposal, small airports would be required to enroll in a TSA-funded program for private screeners. Overall, the budget proposes $63 billion in discretionary funding for DHS, representing a 3.3% decrease from the 2026 continuing resolution level.

Science and technology agencies face equally significant cuts. The Department of Commerce would see a 12.2% decrease from FY2026 enacted funding levels, leaving it with $9.2 billion in discretionary spending authority. Within Commerce, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) faces a $993 million reduction, with the administration criticizing the agency for focusing on “a radical climate agenda” and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.

The budget also proposes cutting $2.2 billion from the National Telecommunications and Information Agency, defunding its Digital Equity program. The administration describes this program, which was funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to promote internet adoption among underrepresented communities, as “unconstitutional” and claims it awarded grants “based on race.” Notices that these grants were being canceled began circulating in May 2025 after Trump announced he would end the program.

In contrast, the Department of Energy would receive a 10% increase in discretionary budget authority, totaling $53.9 billion. The administration plans to repurpose clean energy funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to support artificial intelligence initiatives, including $1.2 billion for seven AI supercomputers at national laboratories. However, the DOE’s Office of Science would still face a $1.1 billion cut, with priorities shifting from clean energy and climate research to high-performance computing AI, quantum information science, fusion, and critical mineral research.