Revised budget proposal softens reductions in CISA funding, advocates for a DHS 'contractor cyber preparedness trial'
House Appropriators Propose Elimination of DHS's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
The House appropriators' homeland security spending bill for fiscal year 2026 proposes to eliminate the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD). This decision comes after the statutory authorization for the CWMD office ended in March 2025, and the Senate has yet to act on the proposal.
The CWMD office plays a crucial role in identifying and countering nuclear, radiological, and biological threats. It coordinates efforts across federal, state, and local levels and supports early-warning and mitigation systems. The closure of the CWMD office may reduce effectiveness in early detection and response to WMD threats.
However, other areas such as Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are seeing budget increases under this bill. The bill allocates $419.1 million to CWMD-related functions elsewhere or for transition purposes, but the standalone office itself is slated for closure.
The DHS Artificial Intelligence Corps, established last year to support AI projects across the department, is targeted for cuts as part of broader reductions to DHS's management enterprise. The bill includes a $3.2 million increase for the CISA cybersecurity division's critical infrastructure program and $2.7 billion for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in 2026, roughly $134 million below its current annual budget.
The bill also directs the DHS AI Corps to continue its efforts and notify the committee regarding any planned cuts to programs or personnel. House appropriators are also encouraging TSA to maintain TSO staffing at a level that does not create delays for air travelers, despite the Trump administration's proposal to decrease the workforce by 2%.
In addition, the bill mentions a one-day virtual event focused on building a federal workforce that's skilled, resilient, and ready to meet evolving mission demands, scheduled for August 26 (Workforce Reimagined). House appropriators are also considering establishing a "DHS contractor cyber readiness pilot" to evaluate the cybersecurity of DHS contractors based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Special Publication 800-171 for protecting controlled unclassified information.
The fiscal 2026 homeland security appropriations measure includes $66.36 billion in discretionary spending. The GOP-led committee passed the homeland security spending bill on a 36-27 vote. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
- In light of the proposed elimination of the DHS's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), there's a growing need to reimagine the federal workforce, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity, to better combat the increasing threat of weapons of mass destruction.
- As part of the budget reconciliation for fiscal year 2026, there's a proposed increase in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) budget, indicating a focus on improving technology and cybersecurity within the federal workforce, while the DHS Artificial Intelligence Corps faces potential cuts.
