Jen Easterly Resigns from CISA Role
Jen Easterly, who stepped down as the head of CISA at the beginning of Trump’s second term, was offered the prestigious Robert F. McDermott chair at the West Point School of Social Sciences this past Tuesday. This chair is named in honor of a WWII hero and notable graduates from her alma mater.
In a surprising turn, Army Chief Dan Driscoll has been released. There was a formal announcement stating that the “free service agreement” concerning Easterly ended on Easter, which halted the involvement of “non-governmental and external groups in the selection of academy staff.”
Easterly took on the role of CISA Director in 2021, during which she faced significant scrutiny over the agency’s involvement in speech censorship.
Under her leadership, CISA reportedly launched initiatives against “misinformation” and “disinformation,” particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and allegations surrounding the 2020 election.
A 2021 Judicial Committee Interim Staff Report found that CISA “directly promoted American censorship,” alleging that during the 2020 election, “CISA-funded entities could invest in reporting alleged misinformation.”
The document indicated that CISA’s work involved addressing misinformation linked to the pandemic and added that “appropriate interventions are necessary for threats to the information environment,” suggesting it enhanced their capacity to analyze these narratives.
The Secretary of the Army issued a directive to West Point, which included rescinding Easterly’s appointment to the McDermott chair and halting external group involvement in selecting academy employees.
There has been litigation, specifically the case of Missouri vs. Biden, which accused the Biden administration of violating the First Amendment by pressuring social media platforms to limit speech. This lawsuit pointed to CISA and Easterly as key figures in this alleged breach.
While the Supreme Court determined that the plaintiffs did not have standing, lower courts indicated that government officials, including those at CISA, had “significantly encouraged” censorship on social media.
Senator Rand Paul remarked in 2023 that “CISA colluded with Big Tech to violate the First Amendment by censoring ordinary Americans’ speech,” reflecting the broader concerns in political circles.
An Army representative stated that immediate actions were taken, including the termination of Easterly’s agreement and a review of employment practices at West Point. They emphasized a careful strategy to prepare future officers for contemporary battlefield challenges.
The US military academy mentioned that it would welcome this updated direction after a prior LinkedIn post regarding Easterly was deleted. Additionally, it was noted that CISA had engaged in regular meetings with social media firms to oversee account removals leading up to the 2020 presidential election.
