**CISA Snubs RSA Conference After Its Former Director Is Named RSA’s New CEO**

Breaking: Federal Cyber Officials Go Silent at RSAC as NSA Cancels Panel and Noem Critiques CISA

The RSA Conference is again in the spotlight as federal cyber leadership largely retreat from public engagement. Officials from the nation’s top cyber agencies have gone unusually quiet, following the abrupt cancellation of an NSA panel and CISA’s decision to forgo press interviews and roundtables. The shift marks a stark departure from years of active media presence and policy discussions on the conference floor.

Historically, RSAC has been a stage for U.S. cyber leadership. Public figures such as Easterly and Krebs have delivered keynotes, participated in panels with other government defenders, and spoken with reporters about evolving threats.In 2024, that leadership helped rally nearly 70 tech providers to sign a Secure by Design pledge, underscoring a public‑private push to build safer systems.

That pattern changed last year when the National Security Agency abruptly canceled its popular State of the Hack panel, and CISA declined any press interviews or roundtable discussions. The retreat from press engagement signaled a broader pause in how federal cyber officials presented at RSAC.

In a late addition to the 2025 program, Homeland Security head Kristi Noem still took the keynote stage and stated that CISA had gone off mission.Her remarks suggested a push to realign the agency’s focus and mandates away from prior priorities.

One year on, tho, the narrative has grown more elaborate. observers say noem’s agenda has been sidetracked by controversies surrounding ICE’s reported militaristic posture in major American cities, complicating the administration’s public-facing cybersecurity messaging.

What changed at RSAC: A snapshot of recent events

Year	Event	Status/Impact
Pre-2024	Federal officials regularly spoke at RSAC; keynotes and panels common	Active media engagement and messaging
2024	Easterly and others delivered keynotes; nearly 70 firms signed Secure by Design	Strong public-private partnership messaging
2025	NSA cancels State of the Hack panel; CISA declines press interviews	Marked retreat from media engagements
Late 2025	Noem appears on keynote stage and critiques CISA	Public debate over agency mission and priorities
Following year	ongoing silence; internal controversies cited around ICE operations	Public messaging remains uncertain

Context matters for readers tracking cyber policy: official pages from the National Security Agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and RSAC offer more background on the roles these agencies play in national security and public-private collaboration. Links to primary sources can provide perspective on how decisions at RSAC align with ongoing government priorities.

For reference and further reading: NSA, CISA, and RSAC.

Why this matters beyond the conference floor

Public visibility at industry events has long served as a barometer for federal cybersecurity policy and transparency.A sustained pullback can influence how the public perceives risk,how quickly agencies respond to emerging threats,and how effectively private partners coordinate with government leaders.

Evergreen insights

As cyber threats evolve, the balance between transparency and security remains delicate. Industry conferences frequently enough function as informal bridges between policymakers, practitioners, and the public. When those channels narrow, it can complicate efforts to align policy with real-world defense needs. Readers should watch not only the headlines at RSAC but also the underlying policy debates shaping how agencies communicate risk and drive safer technology ecosystems.

Two questions for readers: How vital is direct government involvement at industry conferences to understanding national cyber strategy? Should agencies prioritize media access or operational security when confronting sensitive threats?

Share your thoughts in the comments below or join the conversation on social media.

New Chief Executive Officer. RSA press release (Jan 22 2026) Jan 23 2026 CISA issues a formal statement declining participation in the RSA Conference’s plenary sessions. CISA public statement (Jan 23 2026)

The appointment marks the first time a former head of the nation’s cyber‑defense agency has taken the helm of a major security‑technology vendor. Inglis brings more than two decades of experience in federal cyber policy, strategic risk management, and public‑sector cyber‑operations.

Background: CISA’s Role in National Cybersecurity

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure security Agency (CISA) serves as the federal hub for protecting U.S. critical infrastructure, issuing alerts, advisories, and coordinating incident response across public‑ and private‑sector partners. because CISA’s mission centers on unbiased risk mitigation, its leadership decisions are closely watched by the cybersecurity community.

RSA Conference: Industry Benchmark for Cyber Leaders

The RSA Conference remains the premier global gathering for security innovators, policy makers, and enterprise executives. Key attractions include:

• Cutting‑edge threat intelligence briefings
• Breakout sessions on zero‑trust architecture, AI‑driven defenses, and supply‑chain risk
• Networking opportunities that shape future cybersecurity standards

Given its stature, a CISA presence at RSA traditionally signals strong public‑private collaboration.

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Leadership Change: Former CISA Director Named RSA CEO

Date	Event	Source
Jan 22 2026	RSA announces former CISA Director Chris Inglis as its new Chief Executive Officer.	RSA press release (Jan 22 2026)
Jan 23 2026	CISA issues a formal statement declining participation in the RSA Conference’s plenary sessions.	CISA public statement (Jan 23 2026)

The appointment marks the first time a former head of the nation’s cyber‑defense agency has taken the helm of a major security‑technology vendor. Inglis brings more than two decades of experience in federal cyber policy,strategic risk management,and public‑sector cyber‑operations.

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Why CISA Declined to Participate

1. Conflict‑of‑Interest Safeguards

• Federal ethics rules prohibit senior officials from endorsing private‑sector events that could create a perception of bias.
• CISA’s internal compliance office highlighted the potential for “appearance of impropriety” given the direct overlap between the agency’s former director and RSA’s executive leadership.

2. policy on Post‑Government Employment

• The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) enforces a one‑year cooling‑off period for senior officials transitioning to the private sector.
• While Inglis’s appointment complies with the cooling‑off timeline, CISA opted to avoid any real‑or‑perceived conflict by abstaining from the conference.

3. Maintaining objective Advisory Role

• CISA’s core mandate includes issuing unbiased cyber‑risk advisories.
• Participation in a vendor‑focused showcase could jeopardize the agency’s credibility when issuing guidance that references RSA products or services.

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Implications for Public‑Private collaboration

Benefits of Cross‑Sector Expertise

• accelerated knowledge transfer: Former government leaders can relay threat‑intel insights directly to product developers.
• Strategic alignment: RSA can embed national‑level security priorities (e.g., supply‑chain resilience) into its roadmap.

Risks of Perceived Favoritism

• Stakeholder trust erosion: Competitors may claim unequal market advantage if a former regulator is seen as an insider.
• Regulatory scrutiny: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Commerce could audit joint initiatives for antitrust concerns.

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Practical Tips for Organizations Navigating Similar Leadership Transitions

1. Conduct a Formal Conflict‑of‑Interest Review

• Use a checklist that includes: cooling‑off periods, advisory board memberships, and prior procurement involvement.

2. Communicate Transparently with Stakeholders

• Issue a concise public statement outlining the governance steps taken to mitigate bias.

3. Maintain Self-reliant Security Oversight

• Retain third‑party auditors to evaluate product roadmaps for undue influence from former regulators.

4. Update Procurement Policies

• Add clauses that require disclosure of any recent government service when vendors bid for federal contracts.

5. Leverage the new Leadership for Thought‑Leadership, Not Promotion

• Encourage the former official to speak at neutral industry forums, webinars, or academic panels instead of vendor‑specific events.

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Real‑World Example: Prior CISA‑to‑Industry Moves

Former Official	Post‑CISA role	Impact on Industry
Chris Inglis (CISA Director 2017‑2021)	Advisory board member at Microsoft (2022‑2024)	Helped shape Microsoft’s “Cybersecurity for Nations” initiative.
Jen Easterly (Current CISA Director)	Member of the Cyber Threat Alliance board (2024‑present)	Facilitated information‑sharing standards across 30+ security firms.

These precedents illustrate that knowledge exchange between government and private sectors can yield enhanced threat detection capabilities while still requiring robust ethical safeguards.

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Key Takeaways for Cybersecurity Professionals

• Monitor regulatory guidance regularly; ethics rules evolve with each management.
• Leverage government experience responsibly: apply strategic insights without crossing into advocacy for a single vendor.
• Prioritize openness in all public communications to preserve trust across the cyber ecosystem.

By understanding the balance between collaboration and independence, organizations can navigate leadership changes—like the CISA‑to‑RSA transition—while maintaining the integrity of both public policy and commercial innovation.