CISA, AI, and the Future of the Federal Workforce with Rep. James Walkinshaw

As AI expands the capabilities of cyber adversaries, does the federal government have the workforce and tools to keep pace? Rep. James Walkinshaw of Virginia joins Frank Cilluffo to discuss cuts at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), their implications for critical infrastructure, and his push for an independent assessment of the agency's capacity.

They also examine responsible AI adoption in government, the risks of unauthorized AI tools, and the public anxieties driving opposition to data centers. Walkinshaw outlines efforts to strengthen the federal technology workforce, streamline security approvals, and improve accountability for basic cybersecurity practices.

Main Topics

CISA staffing and readiness Local cybersecurity support Federal cyber workforce Responsible AI adoption Shadow AI risks Data centers and public trust FedRAMP reform CLEAR Act and event logging Bipartisan cyber leadership Key Quotes

"At the precise moment when we most needed CISA to be operating at peak efficiency, it was systematically dismantled." — Rep. James Walkinshaw

"When it comes to AI especially, cybersecurity can't be an afterthought. It has to be built in from the very beginning." — Rep. James Walkinshaw

"People are starting to see data centers as the physical embodiment of the anxieties we all have around AI." — Rep. James Walkinshaw

"If you want to bring progress in AI to a screeching halt overnight, that will happen if something goes really, really bad. If you don't get the safety piece right." — Rep. James Walkinshaw

"Federal agencies currently are not even meeting the requirements in terms of event logging. They certainly, for the most part, couldn't answer any of those questions about time to detect or time to mitigate. So our CLEAR Act will require some reporting to Congress around event logging." — Rep. James Walkinshaw

Links and Resources

The CLEAR Act: Walkinshaw and Bacon's announcement FedRAMP CISA: State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program updates About the Guest:

Rep. James Walkinshaw represents Virginia's 11th Congressional District and serves on the House Homeland Security and Oversight and Government Reform committees. Before entering Congress, he served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and spent more than a decade as chief of staff to Rep. Gerry Connolly. He is also founder and co-chair of the Congressional Federal Workforce Caucus.