MERIT TALK

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) newly-minted cybersecurity component agency, along with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), have furloughed substantial chunks of their workforce as a result of the continuing partial Federal government shutdown, according to planning documents issued last month.

According to agency planning documents from December, DHS stated that 43 percent–totaling 1,523 employees out of a total roster of 3,531 employees–of its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency staff would be furloughed during a lapse of appropriations.

NIST, according to the planning documents, takes the largest hit with 87 percent–totaling 2,943 employees out of a total roster of 3,378 employees–furloughed during the shutdown, along with diminished website operations. Among its many functions, NIST is responsible for developing cybersecurity standards for Federal government agencies and the private sector.

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