Dems slam Trump for making cybersecurity hold out the tin cup while splurging on ballroom and Jan. 6 'slush fund'

Democratic lawmakers criticized President Trump’s spending priorities amid proposed deep cuts to cybersecurity funding. They highlighted a $1 billion White House security and ballroom project and a nearly $1.8 billion fund allegedly benefiting Trump allies connected to the January 6 Capitol riot, contrasting these expenditures with the administration’s push to reduce funding for cybersecurity programs. The debate unfolded during a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing focused on the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP), which aims to allocate $1 billion over four years to help state and local governments address cyber threats. Rep. Delia Ramirez condemned the administration’s choices, calling budgets “moral documents” and questioning the ethics of spending heavily on a ballroom and a “slush fund” while critical cybersecurity programs face uncertainty. Rep. James Walkinshaw added that the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has cut support for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), which previously offered free or low-cost cybersecurity services to local governments. The shift to a fee-based model disproportionately affects smaller jurisdictions with limited resources, increasing their vulnerability to cyberattacks. Experts testifying before the committee emphasized that those most in need of cybersecurity assistance are least able to afford it. Walkinshaw noted that CISA’s 2025 budget stands at about $3 billion but faces a proposed $707 million cut by 2027, reducing it to just over $2 billion. This follows previous cuts totaling $135 million and the loss of nearly one-third of CISA’s workforce since Trump’s return to office. The proposed spending on the ballroom and January 6 fund would exceed the total cybersecurity budget, raising concerns about the administration’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure. State and local IT and security officials urged lawmakers to increase, rather than decrease, funding for cybersecurity efforts. They stressed the essential role of cybersecurity in safeguarding democratic institutions and public safety, warning that underfunding these programs could leave communities exposed to growing cyber threats. The hearing underscored the tension between political spending priorities and the urgent need to bolster national cyber defenses at all levels of government.