California’s top cyber official was fired after clashes over priorities, sparking calls to make the state’s cybersecurity center independent.

California’s top cybersecurity official, Edward Bómbita, was fired in September after less than a year, citing disagreements with the Office of Emergency Services (OES) over priorities. Bómbita, a former military cyber leader, advocated for protecting critical infrastructure and supporting local governments, while OES focused on emerging threats like cyber scams and healthcare attacks. Employees and officials say Cal-CSIC’s effectiveness is hampered by its placement within OES, which lacks cyber expertise. Calls are growing to make the center independent or report directly to the governor, amid declining morale and broader concerns about cybersecurity capacity as federal agencies face workforce losses.