Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is calling for the abolition of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), claiming that it is overstepping its mandate by suppressing free speech and censoring people based on their political inclinations.
Established in 2018 under the Department of Homeland Security, CISA's original mission was to enhance the nation's cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure.
Paul, soon to be chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, is one of the strongest critics of CISA in Congress. He has been particularly vocal about what he perceives as CISA’s violations of the First Amendment.
The agency has come under fire for its involvement in monitoring and flagging online content, particularly social media posts that it deems harmful. Critics claim that CISA's actions amount to censorship, influencing public discourse by controlling what is allowed to be seen and shared online.
"The First Amendment is important; that's why we listed it as the First Amendment. I'd like to, at the very least, eliminate their ability to censor content online," Paul said in a post on X. (Related: Government efforts to control your thoughts, speech and life spearheaded by CISA.)
Paul has gone further, advocating for the agency's complete dissolution. While acknowledging that achieving this goal would be challenging, Paul has committed to initiating hearings as the incoming chair of the Senate committee. These hearings will likely focus on CISA's role in collaborating with private companies, especially social media platforms, to monitor and potentially restrict online content.
Congressional Democrats, CISA bureaucrats expected to fight Paul's attempts to abolish the agency
Democrats in Congress are expected to strongly oppose any attempts to diminish CISA's powers. They argue that the agency plays a vital role in defending the country from cyber threats and securing critical infrastructure.
CISA representatives, including senior adviser Ron Eckstein, have defended the agency’s actions, claiming it is simply fulfilling its mission. Eckstein insists that CISA is not involved in censorship, but rather is working to protect Americans' civil rights, privacy and freedom of speech. However, critics, including Paul, argue that these defenses ring hollow in light of the agency’s controversial actions.
Though CISA was created under the Trump administration, its role became more prominent during the 2020 election, a period marked by intense political polarization. Critics argue that CISA played an active role in suppressing voices that questioned the election's legitimacy, particularly those concerned about voter fraud. This led to accusations that CISA had overstepped its boundaries and interfered in political discourse, prompting calls for greater oversight.
CISA's defenders argue that the agency was simply working to counteract "domestic disinformation" and safeguard the integrity of the election process. More recently, CISA has shifted its focus to defending against cyber threats from foreign adversaries. However, this pivot has not quelled criticisms from those who fear the agency is still overreaching and threatening individual freedoms.
Paul has confirmed that he believes the fight to abolish CISA will be an uphill battle, but in the fight to protect the First Amendment he believes this is a necessary one to make.
"While it's unlikely we could get rid of CISA, we survive for, what, 248 years without them," said Paul. "I think a lot of what they do is intrusive, and I'd like to end their intrusions into the First Amendment."
Watch this episode of the "Health Ranger Report" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, declares that censorship is an act of violence and all those who perpetrate it must be criminally prosecuted.
This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.
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