Trump administration ends Cyber Safety Review Board and pauses investigation into Salt Typhoon

The Trump administration has terminated all members of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), along with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency’s Cybersecurity Advisory Committee and other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advisory panels. This move has halted the investigation into hacking group Salt Typhoon’s cyberattack on US telecommunications firms, raising significant concerns among cybersecurity advocates, according to CyberScoop.

While Acting DHS Secretary Benjamin Huffman suggested that outgoing members could reapply for their positions, the decision has faced criticism from lawmakers and experts. Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), of the House Homeland Security Committee, warned that this decision could delay the Salt Typhoon probe, which he emphasised must be ‘completed expeditiously.’

Cybersecurity expert Kevin Beaumont argued that dismantling the CSRB could shield Microsoft from accountability over security lapses tied to a separate Chinese hacking incident. Meanwhile, Jake Williams of IANS Research highlighted the broader implications of this decision, stating that removing such panels could undermine US national security.

However, House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) defended the move, stating it offers the Trump administration an opportunity to appoint new members or reevaluate the mission of the CSRB for more effective oversight.