Chris Krebs

Krebs was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1977.{{cite web|date=April 25, 2018|title=Nomination of Christopher C. Krebs to be Under Secretary, National Protection and Programs Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security|url=https://www.congress.gov/115/chrg/CHRG-115shrg32455/CHRG-115shrg32455.pdf|publisher=Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate|pages=35–36}} He received a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences from the University of Virginia in 1999 and a Juris Doctor from the George Mason University School of Law in 2007.{{cite web

| title = Christopher C. Krebs

| publisher = Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency

| date = November 17, 2020

| url = https://www.cisa.gov/christopher-c-krebs

| accessdate =

| archive-date = November 18, 2020

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201118013021/https://www.cisa.gov/christopher-c-krebs

| url-status = live

}}

Chris Krebs is not related to Brian Krebs.https://securityboulevard.com/2021/06/krebs-on-ransomware/

Krebs's professional work has focused on cybersecurity and risk management issues. He served as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Infrastructure Protection, and later worked in the private sector as Director for Cybersecurity Policy for Microsoft.{{cite web |url=https://www.dhs.gov/person/christopher-c-krebs |title=Christopher C. Krebs |date=2017-09-05|website=Department of Homeland Security |language=en |accessdate=October 12, 2019 |archive-date=May 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507233710/https://www.dhs.gov/person/christopher-c-krebs |url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Zakrzewski|first1=Cat|last2=Inzaurralde|first2=Bastien|title=The Cybersecurity 202: Trump set to make a new DHS agency the top federal cyber cop|date=2020-11-16|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-cybersecurity-202/2018/11/16/the-cybersecurity-202-trump-set-to-make-a-new-dhs-agency-the-top-federal-cyber-cop/5bedb9a71b326b3929054867/|access-date=2020-11-18|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118041247/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-cybersecurity-202/2018/11/16/the-cybersecurity-202-trump-set-to-make-a-new-dhs-agency-the-top-federal-cyber-cop/5bedb9a71b326b3929054867/|url-status=live|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite web|date=2018-11-20|title=President Trump Signs Law Establishing DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency|url=https://www.waterisac.org/portal/president-trump-signs-law-establishing-dhs-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency|access-date=2020-11-18|work=Water ISAC|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118041250/https://www.waterisac.org/portal/president-trump-signs-law-establishing-dhs-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency|url-status=live}}

In March 2017, he became Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security. In August 2017, he was appointed Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection. He performed the duties of the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for National Protection and Programs until he was confirmed to that position permanently on June 15, 2018. In November 2018, the National Protection and Programs Directorate was replaced by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Krebs remained as director of the agency.

In 2019, it was reported that Krebs was being considered to serve as Acting Secretary of Homeland Security after the departure of Kevin McAleenan,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-personnel-director-told-trump-that-top-candidates-for-acting-dhs-secretary-aren-t-eligible-11571683702|title=White House Personnel Director Tells Trump Top DHS Secretary Picks Ineligible for Job|last1=Restuccia|first1=Michelle|last2=Hackman|first2=Andrew|date=2019-10-21|website=The Wall Street Journal|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021185147/https://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-personnel-director-told-trump-that-top-candidates-for-acting-dhs-secretary-aren-t-eligible-11571683702|archive-date=October 21, 2019|access-date=2019-10-21}} although he was reported to be uninterested in the position.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/21/us/politics/trump-homeland-security-secretary.html|title=Trump Running Out of Options for Homeland Security Secretary|last1=Kanno-Youngs|first1=Zolan|date=2019-10-21|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-10-22|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|author-link2=Maggie Haberman|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118013057/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/21/us/politics/trump-homeland-security-secretary.html|url-status=live}}

As CISA's director, Krebs was the "administration's most senior cybersecurity official responsible for securing the presidential election", held on November 3, 2020.{{Cite news|last1=Sanger|first1=David E.|last2=Perlroth|first2=Nicole|date=2020-11-18|title=Trump Fires Christopher Krebs, Official Who Disputed Election Fraud Claims|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/us/politics/trump-fires-christopher-krebs.html|access-date=2020-11-18|issn=0362-4331}} Sidney Powell, an attorney for Trump and Michael Flynn, asserted on the Lou Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo Fox News programs that a secret government supercomputer program had switched votes from Trump to Biden in the election, a claim Krebs dismissed as "nonsense" and a "hoax."{{Cite web|url=https://www.factcheck.org/2020/11/bogus-theory-claims-supercomputer-switched-votes-in-election/|title=Bogus Theory Claims Supercomputer Switched Votes in Election|first1=Angelo|last1=Fichera|first2=Saranac Hale|last2=Spencer|date=November 13, 2020|access-date=November 18, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115032246/https://www.factcheck.org/2020/11/bogus-theory-claims-supercomputer-switched-votes-in-election/|url-status=live|work=FactCheck.org}} CISA created a website to debunk election-related disinformation, much of which was being promoted by President Donald Trump and his allies.{{cite web|url=https://www.cisa.gov/topics/election-security/rumor-vs-reality|title=Election Security Rumor vs. Reality|publisher=Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130231413/https://www.cisa.gov/topics/election-security/rumor-vs-reality|archive-date=January 30, 2025}} On November 12, it was reported that Krebs expected to be fired from his position.{{Cite web |last=Geller |first=Eric |date=November 12, 2020 |title=Top cyber official expecting to be fired as White House frustrations hit agency protecting elections |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/12/cyber-official-chris-krebs-likely-out-436342 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116035401/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/12/cyber-official-chris-krebs-likely-out-436342 |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=November 14, 2020 |website=Politico |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Bing |first1=Christopher |last2=Menn |first2=Joseph |last3=Satter |first3=Raphael |date=November 12, 2020 |title=Exclusive: Top official on U.S. election cybersecurity tells associates he expects to be fired |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-officials-exclusive-idUSKBN27S2YI |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118013039/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-officials-exclusive-idUSKBN27S2YI |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=November 14, 2020 |work=Reuters |language=en}}

On November 17, 2020, Krebs said in a tweet that "59 election security experts all agree, "in every case of which we are aware, these claims (of fraud) either have been unsubstantiated or are technically incoherent." Trump fired Krebs via Twitter the same day, because the "recent statement by Chris Krebs on the security of the 2020 Election was highly inaccurate, in that there were massive improprieties and fraud". Trump provided no evidence of this fraud.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-fires-dhs-election-official/2020/11/17/97d3fa5c-251c-11eb-952e-0c475972cfc0_story.html|title=Trump fires top DHS official who refuted his claims that the election was rigged|last1=Nakashima|first1=Ellen|last2=Miroff|first2=Nick|date=November 17, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=18 November 2020|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118041406/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-fires-dhs-election-official/2020/11/17/97d3fa5c-251c-11eb-952e-0c475972cfc0_story.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Sanger|first=David E.|date=2020-11-18|title=Trump fires Christopher Krebs, whose agency disputed president's false claims of election fraud|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/11/17/us/joe-biden-trump|access-date=2020-11-18|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118012220/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/11/17/us/joe-biden-trump/trump-fires-christopher-krebs-whose-agency-disputed-presidents-false-claims-of-election-fraud|url-status=live}}

Later that month, a lawyer for the Trump campaign, Joseph diGenova, called for Krebs to be "drawn and quartered. Taken out at dawn and shot". DiGenova's specific criticism was that Krebs "thinks the election went well".{{Cite news|last1=Wong|first1=Julia|title=Arizona and Wisconsin certify Joe Biden's win as Trump continues to challenge results – as it happened|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/nov/30/us-election-joe-biden-donald-trump-coronavirus-covid-19-live-updates|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20201201022541/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/nov/30/us-election-joe-biden-donald-trump-coronavirus-covid-19-live-updates|archivedate=December 1, 2020|access-date=December 1, 2020|website=The Guardian|date=December 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Harvey|first=Josephine|date=2020-11-30|title=Trump Lawyer Says Fired Cybersecurity Chief Should Be 'Shot' For Defending Election|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joseph-digenova-chris-krebs-2020-election-threats_n_5fc5a5ddc5b66bb88c69d093|access-date=2020-12-01|website=HuffPost|language=en}} Krebs responded to diGenova's tweet in an op-ed in The Washington Post, saying "I am not going to be intimidated by these threats from telling the truth to the American people."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/christopher-krebs-trump-election-wasnt-hacked/2020/12/01/88da94a0-340f-11eb-8d38-6aea1adb3839_story.html|title=Trump fired me for saying this, but I'll say it again: The election wasn't rigged|last=Krebs|first=Christopher|date=December 1, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=8 December 2020}}

On December 8, 2020, Krebs filed a civil lawsuit against diGenova, the Trump campaign, and Newsmax TV, accusing them of "defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, aiding and abetting, and civil conspiracy". He said that he has received "a barrage of threats and harassment" as a result of diGenova's comments and "faces a genuine risk of imminent harm".{{Cite news|last=Feuer|first=Alan|date=2020-12-08|title=Christopher Krebs, a fired Trump official, sues the campaign and the lawyer who said he should be shot.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/briefing/chris-krebs-defamation-lawsuit.html|access-date=2020-12-08|issn=0362-4331}} In April 2021, diGenova apologized to Krebs for his comments.{{Cite web |last=Saric |first=Ivana |date=2021-04-11 |title=Former Trump lawyer Joe diGenova apologizes to ex-CISA head Chris Krebs for "inappropriate statements" |url=https://www.axios.com/2021/04/11/trump-lawyer-digenova-apologizes-krebs |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Axios |language=en}}

On January 10, 2021, Krebs suggested that Trump should resign the presidency following the January 6 United States Capitol attack.{{Cite news|last=Tamborrino|first=Kelsey|title=Former election cybersecurity chief: Trump can redeem himself by resigning|date=2021-01-10|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/10/krebs-trump-redemption-resignation-457090|access-date=2021-01-10|work=Politico|language=en}}

On April 9, 2025, during his second presidency, Trump signed an executive order revoking security clearances for Krebs and Miles Taylor, a former chief of staff of the United States Department of Homeland Security, as well as ordering investigations into the work of both men during their time in office.{{cite news |last=Sabin |first=Sam |date=April 9, 2025 |title=Trump orders investigations of Chris Krebs, Miles Taylor |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/04/09/chris-krebs-miles-taylor-doj-investigation-trump |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250409233201/https://www.axios.com/2025/04/09/chris-krebs-miles-taylor-doj-investigation-trump |archive-date=April 9, 2025 |access-date=April 9, 2025 |work=Axios}} Some of Krebs's former colleagues have said that the Executive Order targeting him are based on a "personal vendetta" and the case has drawn extensive media attention.{{cite news |last1=Collier |first1=Kevin |title=U.S. cyber defenders shaken by Trump's attack on their former boss |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/us-cyber-defenders-shaken-trumps-attack-former-boss-rcna200597 |access-date=12 April 2025 |work=NBC News |date=10 April 2025 |language=en}} On April 30, 2025, Krebs claimed that he had lost his Global Entry status, and that he suspected it was the result of retribution by the Trump administration against him.{{Cite news |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=2025-05-01 |title=Ex-Trump Official Targeted for Investigation Loses Global Entry Status |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/us/politics/chris-krebs-global-entry.html |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

After leaving office, Krebs joined former Facebook CISO Alex Stamos at the beginning of 2021 to form Krebs Stamos Group, a cybersecurity consultancy, which quickly landed its first customer, the recently-beleaguered SolarWinds.{{cite news |last1=Sebenius |first1=Alyza |title=SolarWinds Taps Krebs, Stamos to Help Investigate Hack |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-08/solarwinds-taps-krebs-stamos-to-help-investigate-hack |access-date=19 June 2021 |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2021-01-08 |quote=SolarWinds Corp. has tapped prominent security experts Chris Krebs and Alex Stamos to review its practices after suspected Russian hackers compromised the company’s software and conducted a sprawling hack across the U.S. government and private sector. The contract with SolarWinds is the first for a newly formed venture Krebs and Stamos have created together. The Krebs Stamos Group will advise clients on cybersecurity, with a focus on areas including foreign threats and crisis situations. The group will work toward 'national and economic security,' Krebs said in a statement Friday.}}{{cite news |last1=Hamilton |first1=Isobel Asher |title=SolarWinds has hired ex-CISA chief Chris Krebs and Facebook's former security lead Alex Stamos months after its huge hack |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/solarwinds-hires-chris-krebs-and-alex-stamos-2021-1 |access-date=19 June 2021 |publisher=Business Insider |date=2021-01-08 |quote=SolarWinds has hired two of the biggest names in cybersecurity, following the gigantic breach, which meant it acted as the gateway for hackers to penetrate US government systems. SolarWinds announced on Thursday it was retaining a new security consulting business founded by Chris Krebs, a former Homeland Security cybersecurity official, and ex-Facebook security chief and Stanford University professor Alex Stamos.}}{{cite news |last1=Whittaker |first1=Zach |title=Chris Krebs and Alex Stamos have started a cyber consulting firm |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/08/chris-krebs-and-alex-stamos-have-started-a-cyber-consulting-firm/ |access-date=19 June 2021 |publisher=TechCrunch |date=2021-01-08 |quote= Former U.S. cybersecurity official Chris Krebs and former Facebook chief security officer Alex Stamos have founded a new cybersecurity consultancy firm, which already has its first client: SolarWinds. The two have been hired as consultants to help the Texas-based software maker recover from a devastating breach by suspected Russian hackers. Krebs was one of the most senior cybersecurity officials in the U.S. government, most recently serving as the director of Homeland Security’s CISA cybersecurity advisory agency from 2018, until he was fired by President Trump for his efforts to debunk false election claims — many of which came from the president himself. Stamos, meanwhile, joined the Stanford Internet Observatory after holding senior cybersecurity positions at Facebook and Yahoo. He also consulted for Zoom amid a spate of security problems.}} Krebs Stamos Group was acquired by SentinelOne in late 2023, Krebs remained as the company's chief intelligence and public policy officer.{{cite news |last1=Greig |first=Jonathan |date=2023-11-09 |title=SentinelOne to acquire cybersecurity consulting firm Krebs Stamos Group |url=https://therecord.media/sentinelone-to-acquire-krebs-stamos-group |accessdate=2025-04-16 |publisher=The Record}} Krebs resigned from SentinelOne in April 2025 citing personal decisions.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/money-report/former-cybersecurity-agency-chief-chris-krebs-leaves-sentinelone-after-trump-targets-him-in-executive-order/3724268/ |title=Former cybersecurity agency chief Chris Krebs leaves SentinelOne after Trump targets him in executive order |date=2025-04-16 |access-date=2025-04-16 |publisher=CNBC |last1=Levy |first=Ari}}

In October 2022, Krebs joined the Council for Responsible Social Media project launched by Issue One to address the negative mental, civic, and public health impacts of social media in the United States co-chaired by former House Democratic Caucus Leader Dick Gephardt and former Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey.{{cite news|last=Feiner|first=Lauren|date=October 12, 2022|title=Facebook whistleblower, former defense and intel officials form group to fix social media|publisher=CNBC|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/12/council-for-responsible-social-media-features-haugen-gephardt-hagel-.html|access-date=October 12, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Council for Responsible Social Media – Issue One|website=issueone.org|url=https://issueone.org/projects/council-for-responsible-social-media/|access-date=October 12, 2022}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://ks.group Krebs Stamos Group official web site]
• {{C-SPAN}}
• {{Twitter}}
• {{commons inline}}

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Category:Computer security specialists

Category:United States Department of Homeland Security officials

Category:First Trump administration personnel

Category:People associated with the 2020 United States presidential election

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Category:Microsoft employees

Category:Antonin Scalia Law School alumni

Category:University of Virginia alumni

Category:Lawyers from Atlanta

Category:1977 births

Category:Living people