TL;DR
- New York’s top cyber official, Colin Ahern, warns Trump’s budget cuts endanger national cybersecurity.
- Trump’s Big Ugly Bill slashes federal cybersecurity spending by over $1.2 billion, including deep cuts to CISA.
- New York is pressing ahead with its own cyber defense strategies, including new legislation, training mandates, and staff expansion.
- Governor Hochul urges federal support through Homeland Security grants.
Trump’s Cybersecurity Cuts Spark State-Level Concerns
Colin Ahern, New York’s chief cyber officer, has sharply criticized the Trump administration’s rollback of federal cybersecurity programs. In a TechCrunch interview, Ahern warned that recent budget cuts are “putting the country at risk”, referring specifically to the administration’s Big Ugly Bill, which passed in early July 2025.
“We work with the federal government day in and day out. We need and want the federal government to be effective,” said Ahern.
The Big Ugly Bill—officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—has cut cybersecurity budgets across agencies by over $1.2 billion. Notably, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) alone faced a $135 million reduction. In contrast, the bill earmarked $1 billion over four years for offensive overseas hacking operations.
Key Data: U.S. Cybersecurity Budget Cuts Under Trump
| Category | Value | Source |
| Total Cybersecurity Budget Cuts | $1.2 Billion | TechCrunch |
| CISA Budget Reduction | $135 Million | CISA.gov |
| Offensive Cyber Ops Funding (4-year pledge) | $1 Billion | Federal Budget Summary |
| CISA Staff Fired (later recalled via court) | 100+ employees | TechCrunch |
States Fill the Federal Void
Despite federal pullbacks, Ahern emphasized that New York will not stand still. He detailed how the state is forging cross-jurisdiction partnerships—with other states, counties, and even across party lines—to secure local infrastructure and services.
Governor Kathy Hochul recently sent a formal request to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem seeking immediate release of funds from the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), which supports state and local security efforts.
“HSGP funding is vital to securing and maintaining critical infrastructure assets,” Hochul emphasized in the letter, referencing systems like power grids, water utilities, and communication networks.
Local Cybersecurity Measures Take Priority
New York is actively advancing several new cybersecurity initiatives to fill the federal gap:
- New Legislation signed by Governor Hochul mandates cybersecurity awareness training for all public employees operating computers across state and municipal offices.
- Government offices are now required to report cyberattacks to New York’s homeland security within 72 hours, and ransomware payments within 24 hours.
- A proposed bill aims to launch a grant program for water and wastewater systems, assisting them in meeting forthcoming cybersecurity regulations.
- Ahern confirmed the launch of a new cyber office in New York City to recruit experts—including some who lost jobs due to Trump’s CISA layoffs.
Ahern reinforced the state’s commitment by stating:
“New York says you’re hired,” referencing the administration’s counter-response to federal downsizing with a public job campaign slogan: “DOGE says you’re fired. New York says you’re hired.”
Looking Ahead
While the federal government has primary responsibility for national cybersecurity, states like New York are playing a critical role in safeguarding local infrastructure. Despite political tension and diminished federal coordination, leaders such as Ahern and Hochul are focused on resilience, inter-agency partnerships, and proactive security culture.
“We’re investing in a safe, resilient, and affordable New York that continues to be the cultural and economic hub of the nation,” Ahern concluded.
