The Trump administration gutted key cybersecurity advisory boards in its first days, as expert witnesses warned Congress of potentially destructive cyberattacks by China.

US Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) said the Department of Homeland Security's directive to fire everyone on its advisory committees – including its cybersecurity panels and the Cyber Safety Review Board – sends a strong signal to China. That safety board in particular was investigating Beijing's Salt Typhoon intrusions into telecoms networks.

"Within his first two days in office, Donald Trump has already waved a white flag to Chinese hackers," he told The Register.

"Disbanding the Cyber Safety Review Board while it's in the middle of investigating the most damaging security breach of America's phone system in recent memory, is a massive gift to the Chinese spies who targeted Trump, JD Vance and other top political figures," Wyden continued.

Also on Wednesday, the US House of Representatives' Committee on Homeland Security held its first hearing since Trump took office, hearing urgent calls from expert witnesses to shore up America's networks against foreign adversaries.
"As President Trump [took] office this week, the homeland has never been less secure," retired US Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery testified.