Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has fired more than 100 employees working for the U.S. government's cybersecurity agency CISA, including "red team" staffers and incident response team members, according to sources affected by the layoffs. The sudden and unexpected move has left many wondering about the impact on the agency's ability to protect the country's cyber infrastructure.

The layoffs, which occurred in late February and early March, were carried out without prior warning, with affected employees' network access revoked immediately. This is the latest round of staff cuts to hit the federal cybersecurity agency since the start of the Trump administration, with more than 130 CISA employees cut by DOGE earlier in February, and several CISA employees working on election security placed on leave in January.

CISA's "red team" is responsible for simulating real-world attacks to identify security weaknesses in networks before attackers do. The team's role is critical in helping the agency anticipate and prepare for potential cyber threats. The layoffs also affected staffers who worked for CISA's Cyber Incident Response Team (CIRT), which is responsible for penetration testing and vulnerability management of networks belonging to U.S. federal government departments and agencies.

A CISA spokesperson, Tess Hyre, declined to comment on the latest round of job cuts affecting the agency and wouldn't say how many employees had been affected. However, Hyre stated that CISA's red team "remains operational" and that the agency is "reviewing all contracts to ensure that they align with the priorities of the new administration."

The sudden layoffs have left many concerned about the potential impact on the country's cybersecurity. One of the affected employees expressed frustration, saying that "DOGE felt like a ballistic missile with no guidance system." The same employee is now looking for "DOGE-resistant gigs," highlighting the uncertainty and anxiety felt by those affected.

The layoffs have also raised questions about the future of the agency's ability to protect the country's cyber infrastructure. With over 80 employees supporting continuous monitoring and between 30 and 50 employees working in incident response laid off, the impact on the agency's operations is likely to be significant. As one of the affected employees noted, "As far as what will happen to those government systems, I have no knowledge."

The move by DOGE has sparked concerns about the Trump administration's priorities when it comes to cybersecurity. The layoffs are seen by many as a setback for the agency's efforts to protect the country's cyber infrastructure, and have raised questions about the administration's commitment to cybersecurity.

The incident highlights the challenges faced by government agencies in the current administration, where priorities and budgets are constantly shifting. The layoffs are a reminder that even critical agencies like CISA are not immune to the uncertainty and upheaval of the current political climate.

In the coming weeks and months, it will be crucial to monitor the impact of these layoffs on CISA's operations and the country's cybersecurity posture. As the agency navigates this uncertain period, one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the consequences of failure could be devastating.