CSI RIF

I got my first report today that the Chemical Security Inspectors (CSI) are now in the reduction in force spotlight. Apparently, letters started going out Friday letting CSI know that their services were no longer needed by the federal government. While the overall numbers are not as large as those being seen at some other agencies (the maximum staffing was about 160 individuals) these are folks that were providing key support for the expired Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) and the newer ChemLock program. That provides a special connection to me and most of the readers of this blog.

These individuals have a unique skill set that for the most part has been developed in the field over the 15+ years that the CFATS program was in force. They have an unusual appreciation for the peculiar security needs of a wide range of chemical facilities, from chemical refineries to small chemical warehousing operations, from research facilities to farm supply stores. They have seen what works and what does not. Hopefully all will be able to quickly find work advising industry on chemical security matters. NOTE: If you have openings, please let me know, I will add them to my daily ‘Short Takes.’ post.

At this point, I do not know how deep the reduction in force is for CSI. The ChemLock program does not need near as many CSI as did the CFATS program. And I am not sure that ChemLock will survive the CISA restructuring, since that program was never specifically authorized by Congress. Since the CSI were not technically a part of the CFATS program (they worked for the CISA regional offices instead of CFATS office). I had hoped that CISA would realize that their unique training would act as a valuable supplement to the similarly small number of Protective Security Advisors (PSA) and Cyber Security Advisors (CSA) that have been on the road providing security support to critical infrastructure organizations.

At this point I wonder what would have happened if Kelly Murray had spent as much time trying to get ChemLock authorized as she did trying to get CFATS reinstated. It was obvious to me early on that the opposition of Rand Paul was not something that was going to be overcome by industry pressure; he is a true believer that knows when he is right and is not likely to change his mind. Kelly gave her all to put as much pressure as she could, but it was never going to be enough. To be fair, that may not have been her decision to make, but it was her face and voice that will be remembered.