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Members of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are being forced to choose between staying at their jobs or taking a government buyout, NPR reports. The buyout program is one of several methods the current administration is deploying to shrink the federal government under the guidance of the "Department of Governmental Efficiency" (DOGE), an advisory group lead by Elon Musk. CISA was creating during the first Trump Administration in 2018 to protect key infrastructure from cyber attacks and advise the government and its partners on building more secure infrastructure in the future. The agency played an important role in investigating Salt Typhoon in 2024, the hacking group that breached US telecom companies to get at government officials. Considering cybersecurity is becoming more critical, not less, short-staffing the agency could lead to problems. The consequences of hollowing out or effectively eliminating key government agencies and departments don't seem to be a concern of DOGE or the Trump Administration, however. Along with CISA, staff at the IRS, CIA and Department of Education have also reportedly received the buyout ultimatum. The offer gives government employees until midnight on February 6 to accept a buyout and receive pay through October, or come back to work in-person, agree to new performance standards and promise to be "reliable, loyal and trustworthy," according to USA Today. The deal mirrors a similar offer Musk made to Twitter employees after he acquired the social media platform in 2022, even down to language describing it as a "Fork in the Road." A key difference between then and now is budget. The government hasn't set aside money to pay a bunch of employees to do nothing for eight months, and its not clear it plans to, because Congress ultimately controls government spending. Beyond that, a legal fight might make the whole thing moot. A US district judge in Boston has already ruled against the buyout deal, giving government employees until at least Monday to make a decision, Reuters writes, and there's the possibility of another extension still on the table. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/protecting-the-us-from-hackers-apparently-isnt-in-trumps-budget-195915036.html?src=rss
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Looking for a new streamer to fill the endless daily void? A year of Peacock Premium is on sale for just $30. Just use the code WINTERSAVINGS at checkout. This is a major discount of over 60 percent, as the typical price is $80. Its important to note that, despite the name, this isnt the actual premium tier. It includes ads, which could be a dealbreaker for some. However, theres plenty to watch on this platform for those okay with the occasional long and harrowing commercial about random pharmaceuticals. Peacock, after all, easily made our list of the best streaming services. The platform is home to all kinds of original content, from Rian Johnsons Poker Face to that surprisingly fun Twisted Metal adaptation. Its also the only place to watch the dearly-departed AI-centric sci-fi romp Mrs. Davis. During its early years, Peacock invested heavily in scripted comedy and a lot of that stuff is still on the platform. This includes shows like Rutherford Falls, Bust Down and MacGruber. More recently, the streamer has found success with shows like Ted, Hysteria! and Laid. It also has all kinds of reality TV shows, if thats your bag, as NBC owns Bravo. If this deal interests you, get on it quick. The aforementioned coupon code stops working on February 18. Also, this deal is only for new subscribers. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-one-year-of-peacock-premium-for-only-30-195123398.html?src=rss
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The Entertainment Software Association is making a fresh attempt to launch a gaming event. The new project is called iicon, or the "interactive innovation conference." It's not as catchy a name as E3, and sadly for the average gaming fan, it's probably not an event they'll care about as much as E3. On the positive side, most of the big businesses in games that would have hosted sprawling booths at Los Angeles Convention Center back in the day have already signed on to this new endeavor. Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Disney, EA, Epic Games, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Take Two Interactive, Amazon Games and Warner Bros. Games are all named as participants. However, the announcements on social media promote iicon as being for "visionaries," "changemakers" and "innovators," so our best guess is that this event will swing more toward the corporate side of gaming where people might use that language unironically. If that's the case, this won't really be a replacement for the heyday of E3, when studios big and small would showcase their upcoming projects and drop internet-breaking surprises. Instead, the inaugural event in April 2026 sounds like it will focus more on moving the needle, brand alignments and synergy. Since the old ESA event's decline and eventual demise in 2023, the consumer side of gaming is mostly being served by splashy events run by Geoff Keighley: the Summer Game Fest and the Game Awards. Both have already announced their 2025 dates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-esa-wants-to-replace-e3-with-a-bunch-of-buzzwords-191544789.html?src=rss
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