Home / Technology / DHS Fires 24 FEMA IT Staff Amid Severe Cybersecurity Breaches
DHS Fires 24 FEMA IT Staff Amid Severe Cybersecurity Breaches
29 Aug
Summary
- DHS discovered major security vulnerabilities in FEMA's network
- Threat actor breached FEMA's network, putting entire DHS at risk
- No Americans directly impacted, no sensitive data extracted

On August 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it had fired two dozen members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) IT department. The decision came after a routine cybersecurity review conducted by the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) uncovered "significant security vulnerabilities" in FEMA's network.
The investigation revealed that these vulnerabilities had allowed a threat actor to gain access to FEMA's network, putting the entire DHS and the nation at risk. According to the DHS statement, the "severe lapses in security" had enabled the threat actor to breach FEMA's network, though no Americans were directly impacted, and no sensitive data was extracted.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the agency took swift action to address the cybersecurity crisis, terminating the employment of the 24 FEMA IT staff members responsible for the security failures. The DHS is now working to strengthen FEMA's cybersecurity measures and ensure the integrity of its critical systems.