In a recent turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a probe into former top cybersecurity official Chris Krebs, which many believe is a blatant act of retaliation against Krebs for undermining efforts to question the integrity of the 2020 presidential election. The White House announced on Wednesday that Trump signed a presidential memorandum instructing all federal agencies to revoke any active security clearances held by Krebs, the former director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Furthermore, Trump also ordered the suspension of all security clearances held by individuals at entities associated with Krebs, including cybersecurity firm SentinelOne where he currently works. The reasoning behind Trump’s actions seems to be more personal than factual, as he has a history of targeting individuals who do not align with his narrative. Krebs, who was fired in November 2020, has been accused by Trump of suppressing conservative viewpoints and denying the alleged rigging and stealing of the 2020 election.
Krebs, known for stating that the 2020 election was the most secure on record, has faced backlash for debunking conspiracy theories surrounding election malfeasance and vulnerabilities in voting machines. Under his leadership, CISA released a statement affirming that there was no evidence of any voting system being compromised. Despite these facts, Trump continues to push false information regarding the election, using Krebs as a target to advance his baseless claims.
SentinelOne, the cybersecurity firm where Krebs currently serves, has pledged to cooperate with any review of its employees’ security clearances, emphasizing its commitment to defending customers against cyberthreats. The company reassured that the suspension of security clearances for few employees would not impact its business operations significantly. Cybersecurity experts have expressed concerns over Trump’s actions, stating that it weakens the nation’s ability to attract top cybersecurity talent.
Since his second term began, Trump has made efforts to weaken CISA by firing personnel and defunding election security initiatives, despite ongoing nation-state cyber threats against the U.S. The disbanding of federal cybersecurity programs comes at a time when the country faces increasing cyberattacks from foreign entities. Krebs, following his government service, co-founded the Krebs Stamos Group with cybersecurity expert Alex Stamos, which was later acquired by SentinelOne.
As conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election continue to circulate, the fallout of Trump’s actions extends to other individuals involved in election-related probes. In Wisconsin, a lawyer hired by Republicans to lead an election investigation agreed to suspend his law license for three years after facing allegations of misconduct. The state’s Office of Lawyer Regulation accused the lawyer, Michael Gableman, of various types of misconduct during his probe in the swing state.
In conclusion, Trump’s ongoing efforts to discredit the 2020 election results and target individuals like Chris Krebs highlight the divisive political landscape in the U.S. While cybersecurity experts raise concerns about the implications of Trump’s actions on national security, the repercussions of the 2020 election continue to unfold in unexpected ways across different states and sectors.