Special Report: Trump Fires CISA's Krebs for Defending the Election

CISA's executive director Brandon Wales now in charge, experts and Biden transition team priase Krebs and rail against Trump's decision

Nov 18

Following days of anticipation, Donald Trump yesterday fired the highest-ranking official in his administration who defended the integrity of the recent voting process in the face of an intensifying push by the Oval Office occupant to undermine “the most secure election in U.S. history.” Trump fired via a pair of tweets Christopher Krebs, the head of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), one of his own nominees who garnered the respect of election security experts through his work to harden U.S. voting infrastructure during his four-year tenure.

Krebs’ deputy Matt Travis was also apparently pushed out, leaving CISA Executive Director Brandon Wales in charge of the agency.

Krebs’ launch of a “rumor control” website, which disputed some of Trump’s favorite conspiracy theories involving non-existent software glitches and false stories of dead people voting, is the precipitating factor that pushed Trump over the edge. After his firing, Krebs, who is tentatively scheduled to speak at two conferences today, tweeted from his own personal account, “Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure Tomorrow. #Protect2020.”

Chris Krebs @C_C_Krebs

Honored to serve. We did it right. Defend Today, Secure Tomrorow. #Protect2020

The news of his firing caused an uproar among voting experts, security officials, congressional supporters, and even some Hollywood stars.

Nicole Perlroth @nicoleperlroth

Pointed statement on @CISAKrebs firing from Rep. Ruppersburger: "Our country finds itself without a smart and capable cyber chief in one of the most vulnerable times our nation has ever seen...Once again, Trump puts himself before our country. He does not care about our safety."

Joseph Marks @Joseph_Marks_

From the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State: "We denounce President Trump’s firing of Chris Krebs. Chris Krebs spoke truth to power, the 2020 elections were safe, secure and legitimate." Say's Trump's "actions are dangerous and only work to weaken our democracy."

Chris Krebs @C_C_Krebs

In defending democracy, do or do not, there is no try. This is the way. #Protect2020 @HamillHimself @PedroPascal1 https://t.co/nhF4FrVqhT

Mark Hamill @HamillHimself

Translation: The recent statement by Chris Krebs was highly accurate, in that there were no improprieties or fraud, confirmed by all credible 2020 Election officials sworn under oath to be truthful. Therefore, he has been terminated for refusing to lie for me, your #LiarInChief. https://t.co/OmJGS15agK

Many commenters think that Trump’s firing of Krebs, much like his move to fire FBI Director James Comey, could backfire on him.

Natasha Bertrand @NatashaBertrand

One way this could backfire for Trump: As a government official, Krebs had been forbidden from speaking to the Biden transition team. Nothing stopping him from doing so now, and he has a lot of institutional knowledge that isn’t necessarily classified.

As for Krebs, his sterling reputation as a public servant should hold him in good stead as he moves forward. Many cybersecurity experts have appealed to the Biden administration to hire him back. The Biden transition team did not close that door and issued high praise to Krebs for his service in slamming Trump’s action.

Molly Nagle @MollyNagle3

NEW: Biden spox @MichaelJGwin on Krebs firing: “Chris Krebs should be commended for his service in protecting our elections, not fired for telling the truth...Trump's embarrassing refusal to accept that reality lays bare how baseless and desperate his flailing is."

Image from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Special Report: Trump Fires CISA's Krebs for Defending the Election

CISA's executive director Brandon Wales now in charge, experts and Biden transition team priase Krebs and rail against Trump's decision

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