Trump Orders Investigation into Chris Krebs, Former CISA Director

Investigation Ordered into Former Cybersecurity Official

Former U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA director, Chris Krebs, is now the subject of a federal investigation initiated by President Trump on Wednesday.

A newly issued order directs both the Department of Homeland Security – CISA’s parent organization – and the U.S. attorney general to conduct this investigation.

Details of the Investigation

This action follows Krebs’ dismissal by the Trump administration in November 2020. The firing occurred shortly after he publicly refuted claims made by Trump regarding voting irregularities during the presidential election.

Furthermore, the order mandates the revocation of Krebs’ security clearance.

The directive alleges that Krebs “falsely and baselessly denied” assertions of a rigged and stolen 2020 election. It specifically cites his dismissal of alleged widespread election malfeasance and vulnerabilities within voting machines.

Previous Claims of Irregularities

President Trump and his allies have consistently maintained that voting irregularities occurred during the 2020 election, despite a lack of supporting evidence.

Following his defeat in the 2020 election, Trump initiated numerous lawsuits. However, the vast majority of these legal challenges were unsuccessful.

CISA's Role and Krebs' Tenure

CISA, established during the initial Trump administration, is responsible for overseeing federal cybersecurity defense.

It also safeguards the security of U.S. critical infrastructure, which includes election systems.

During Krebs’ leadership, CISA actively worked to counter misinformation and disinformation concerning election integrity and voter fraud. Much of this false information originated from Russian interference in 2016, which aimed to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral process.

Allegations of First Amendment Violation

The Trump order asserts that Krebs violated the First Amendment, a constitutional principle protecting free speech.

This claim centers on allegations that Krebs exceeded his authority as CISA director when addressing what the administration considers to be election falsehoods.

Impact on SentinelOne Employees

The order extends beyond Krebs, revoking the security clearances of individuals employed by SentinelOne, the cybersecurity firm where Krebs currently works.

SentinelOne spokesperson Karen Master stated the company will fully cooperate with any security clearance review.

She also indicated that fewer than 10 employees possess security clearances, and the revocations are not anticipated to significantly impact the company’s operations.

Pattern of Security Clearance Revocations

Krebs joins a growing number of former U.S. government officials who have had their security clearances revoked by the Trump administration.

Many of these individuals served during Trump’s first term and have since voiced criticism of his administration’s policies.

Additional Order Regarding Former Homeland Security Official

On the same day, President Trump signed a separate order revoking the security clearance of a former Homeland Security official.

This individual had previously authored an anonymous op-ed article expressing critical views of Trump’s policies during his first term as president.