Overview

• President Trump issued an executive order on April 9, 2025, revoking Chris Krebs' security clearances and directing a Justice Department investigation into his tenure at CISA.
• Krebs, who led CISA during the 2020 election and declared it the 'most secure in American history,' has been accused by Trump of acting in 'bad faith' and abusing his government authority.
• In response to the executive order, Krebs resigned from his role at cybersecurity firm SentinelOne to avoid impacting the company and dedicate himself to fighting the investigation.
• The cybersecurity industry has largely remained silent on the unprecedented targeting of Krebs, with only a few voices publicly defending him against what some see as retaliatory action.
• Krebs has framed his fight as a defense of democratic norms, free speech, and the rule of law, emphasizing the broader implications of executive overreach.