Politics

3 top FBI cybersecurity officials are reportedly retiring

Three cybersecurity officials are reportedly leaving their posts at the FBI amid concerns about cyber attacks from abroad and relentless disagreements with President Trump.

The three officials join others who have left government service in recent months as cyber intrusions become a major point of concern in advance of the midterm elections, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The paper named the officials as: Scott Smith, assistant FBI director who runs the Bureau’s cyber division; David Resch, executive assistant director of the FBI’s criminal, cyber, response and services branch; and Carl Ghattas, executive assistant director of the FBI’s national security branch.

Smith’s deputy, Howard Marshall, also left in recent weeks. Jeffrey Tricoli, who oversaw a task force addressing Russian attempts to meddle in US elections, left last month, the paper said.

The Journal cited senior US intelligence officials’ warnings that the US is facing unprecedented cyber threats, including from Russia.

The FBI confirmed the departures to the paper and provided a statement from Resch.

“As I retire after 28 years of government service to transition into the private sector, I have full confidence that under Director [Chris] Wray’s steadfast leadership, the Bureau will remain the FBI the American people have depended on for 110 years,” the statement read.