A shutdown would sideline federal cyber defenders just as a bedrock cybersecurity data-sharing law expires, leaving the government unusually vulnerable, cybersecurity experts warn. Cohen said infrastructure owners and operators would be less able to reach officials and data, and the government's cyber workforce would suffer if no funding bill is passed by Oct. 1. Among them would be people confronting an emerging cyber threat group, believed linked to China, exploiting vulnerabilities in Cisco devices, Chris Butera, CISA’s acting deputy executive assistant director for cybersecurity, told reporters last week. There are risky domino effects of having a diminished federal cyber workforce, said one former U.S. official who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to publicly speak about the impact of a shutdown. Specifically, younger cyber staffers can’t learn from their more experienced peers because they will not be able to come into work.