Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 25 February 2026

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Preventing Doxxing and Digital Threats: A Practical Workshop for Faith Leaders

The Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA is hosting a Zoom workshop on March 2 at 12:00 p.m. focused on helping faith leaders improve their digital security practices in an era of growing online threats and polarization. The Safe Communities Coalition, an initiative of the Arizona Faith Network, will lead this interactive session, with Praveen Sinha, Security Director of Equality Labs, presenting practical strategies to prevent doxxing, enhance online hygiene, and respond effectively to digital harassment. Participants will learn actionable techniques for safeguarding personal and congregational information, strengthening passwords and privacy settings, and steps to take if targeted by online attacks. The workshop is designed for rostered ministers, lay leaders, and congregational staff who want to protect themselves and their ministries in today’s increasingly hostile digital landscape. Registration is required to obtain the Zoom link.

Analyst Comments: This workshop reflects a growing recognition within faith communities that doxxing, which involves the unauthorized sharing of private personal information online, is not an abstract concern but a real risk that can harm individuals and ministries alike. The event aims to offer practical tools to empower leaders who may not have formal cybersecurity training to take concrete steps to protect themselves and their congregations. The timing also aligns with broader trends of heightened polarization increasing online harassment targeting public figures and community leaders. Sessions like this can play a crucial role in increasing awareness of cybersecurity best practices and encouraging faith communities to treat digital safety as part of their pastoral care and ministry stewardship, rather than an optional add-on.

Across party lines and industry, the verdict is the same: CISA is in trouble

A CyberScoop analysis reports that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the federal agency charged with coordinating national cybersecurity and defending critical infrastructure, has been significantly weakened during President Donald Trump’s second administration. According to multiple anonymous sources from government, industry, and Congress, CISA has lost roughly one-third of its workforce over the past year, with entire divisions shuttered and senior leaders departing. The agency is also operating without a Senate-confirmed head and, according to critics, has struggled under Acting Director Madhu Gottumukkala’s leadership. The cuts and restructurings have affected key programs, including election security, counter-ransomware efforts, threat hunting, secure software development, and state/local government engagement. Partners now seek support from industry groups or consultants instead of CISA. Many observers express concern that CISA’s diminished capacity may leave the nation unprepared for major cyber crises, with morale low and relationships with state, local, and private stakeholders frayed. While CISA and DHS officials argue changes are part of a refocusing on core missions and that the agency still performs valuable work, critics warn the loss of personnel and expertise undermines its ability to coordinate on cyber threats at the national level.

Analyst Comments: This underscores a broader tension in U.S. cybersecurity policy: reducing federal capacity amid rising digital threats. The reported personnel losses and program cuts, driven in part by shifts in the administration’s priorities and a protracted leadership vacancy, risk undoing gains made over years and weaken a linchpin of U.S. cyber readiness. Without robust engagement with state and local partners, or a full complement of trained technical staff, CISA may struggle to fulfill its mission of preventing and responding to incidents that cross jurisdictions and sectors. Even if the agency still issues vulnerability warnings and handles some core tasks, the apparent decline in relationship-building and operational capacity could leave blind spots at critical moments. 

LA law enforcement agencies conduct large-scale drill amid preparations for World Cup, 2028 Olympics

Local law enforcement and first responders in the Los Angeles area recently conducted a large-scale active-shooter drill at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as part of comprehensive preparations for several upcoming major events, including this year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, next year’s Super Bowl in Inglewood, and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Agencies taking part in the exercise included the Los Angeles Police Department, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, and the L.A. Fire Department. The purpose of the drill was to strengthen communication, coordination, and readiness across multiple jurisdictions and emergency response units, with officials emphasizing that working together in realistic training scenarios helps improve responses to potential critical incidents at large gatherings. Additional follow-up exercises are planned to further enhance interagency cooperation and event security planning.

Analyst Comments: This large-scale joint training reflects a broader trend in event security planning where cities anticipating mega-events recognize the need for cross-agency collaboration and repeated practical exercises well before crowds arrive. With tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of international visitors expected for events like the World Cup, Super Bowl, and Olympics, law enforcement and emergency services are under pressure not only to prevent violent incidents but also to sync communication systems, unify command structures, and test response protocols across departments.

For faith-based organizations and other community groups in cities hosting these major events, there’s a clear imperative to engage early with official planning efforts, understand heightened security postures, and build relationships with local emergency management agencies so they can protect congregants, participate in community response networks, and ensure continuity of operations during periods of increased public safety activity.

Skills and Roles of the Intelligence Analyst

When: March 4^th 12:00 E.T. 

The third session of the Building an Intelligence Team Series. The roles and skill sets needed to be effective, whether you have a team or an army of one, and the organizational structure and workflow.

About the series. “Intelligence” often conjures images of secret agents working in the shadows to protect national security.  Intelligence isn’t just for government agents, with a little guidance, anyone can do it! Intelligence involves a systematic process of collecting, analyzing, and using information to anticipate, detect, and prevent threats before they cause harm. This process helps decision makers weigh alternatives and make threat-informed, fact-based choices via enhanced situational awareness. By leveraging intelligence, houses of worship can enhance their overall safety and security, ensuring their spaces remain welcoming sanctuaries for worship – yet prepared for potential incidents.

Throughout the first half of 2026, FB-ISAO will host a six-session discussion series for members on how faith-based organizations can build and operate their own intelligence group.