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Concerns Emerge Over Election Security Amid Federal Cutbacks

NEW YORK — A video that surfaced last October, showing what appeared to be ballots being destroyed in Pennsylvania, sparked a swift response from federal agencies, labeling it as Russian disinformation.

On Election Day in November, bomb threats targeting polling stations across multiple states led to minimal disruptions in voting. This was just one of many threat scenarios addressed by the national cybersecurity agency as part of their outreach to local and state officials.

However, uncertainty looms over the future of that critical assistance.

The Trump administration’s efforts to reduce and dismantle federal agencies have significantly impacted initiatives aimed at enhancing election security and monitoring foreign interference. This situation creates potential vulnerabilities for adversaries looking to exploit weaknesses during future elections.

“Our adversaries are upping their game every day,” warned Suzanne Spaulding, former cyber chief at the Department of Homeland Security. “I’m concerned that we are simultaneously weakening our defenses.”

Recently, Attorney General Pam Bondi dissolved an FBI task force dedicated to probing foreign influence operations that target U.S. elections. Furthermore, she restricted the enforcement of laws concerning lobbying transparency for foreign governments. Bondi argued that these adjustments would “free resources for more pressing priorities” and mitigate the potential for misuse of prosecutorial power.

The administration has also implemented significant cuts within the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is responsible for safeguarding critical infrastructure, including electoral systems. According to a senior official at DHS, mass firings of probationary federal employees have led to over 130 personnel losses at CISA. It remains unclear if this includes 17 employees who were recently placed on leave.

According to the DHS official, CISA has paused all election security operations while it reviews its funding and staffing. The agency is also terminating its participation in a voluntary program designed to share cybersecurity information with state and local election officials.

Analysts argue these actions signal a declining federal commitment to protecting U.S. elections from foreign interference. Larry Norden, an election expert at the Brennan Center for Justice, stated, “We would be naive to assume that bad actors do not recognize this decreased oversight, which means less protection for our elections.”

While elections are primarily managed by state and local governments in the U.S., the support from federal agencies in recent years has been crucial in combating growing threats, enhancing collaboration among election authorities on security matters, and exposing foreign campaigns aimed at undermining voter confidence.

Dean Logan, Registrar of Los Angeles County, shared two instances when federal officials were the first to alert his office about potential threats. In 2023, they provided advance notice of a questionable envelope directed at his election facilities, enabling it to be intercepted. In 2024, federal authorities informed him of a bomb threat received via email before he was aware of it.

“We can’t oversee everything,” Logan explained. “Our focus is on election administration.”

Darren Linvill, co-director of the Media Forensics Hub at Clemson University, emphasized that the investigative capabilities of the FBI are irreplaceable. “That task force will be missed in 2026 and beyond,” he remarked.

Leading Democrats on the Senate and House committees responsible for election legislation recently expressed their “grave concern” over these changes in a letter to CISA officials, seeking clarity on how these modifications will affect election security.

During his tenure, Trump has tried to halt government efforts to monitor online misinformation, equating it with censorship directed at conservatives. Despite signing the bill that created CISA in 2018, he dismissed its director, Christopher Krebs, after the 2020 election, which Trump claims was rigged in favor of Democrat Joe Biden. Krebs had validated the vote’s security even as Trump continued to assert otherwise.

In contrast, the Biden administration has actively supported government monitoring of foreign influence, with numerous public alerts about such activities in 2024. An FBI investigation culminated in the indictment of three Iranian operatives who had hacked into Trump’s campaign systems.

The FBI has collaborated closely with CISA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to coordinate intelligence regarding foreign influence efforts, overseen by ODNI’s Foreign Malign Influence Center.

Newly appointed National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard has not revealed her plans for this center, which is set to potentially expire in 2028 unless Congress acts. Gabbard has emphasized her intent to eliminate “the weaponization and politicization” of the intelligence community.

While there are no indications that the Justice Department intends to cease investigations into election-related espionage crimes, the disbanding of a dedicated task force could still have significant repercussions, according to David Salvo, managing director at the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy.

“There are still likely FBI officers monitoring this sort of activity,” he noted. “However, it’s unclear whether those in charge are genuinely concerned, and it’s feasible that this work could be discouraged.”

Some Republicans have voiced support for the task force’s disbandment. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, proclaimed on the social platform X that the unit was “highly politicized,” arguing that dissolving it was the “right move.”

In an emailed response, the FBI confirmed the task force’s disbandment but declined to comment on “specific personnel actions.”

For CISA, whose broad mission includes safeguarding America’s critical infrastructure, the future remains uncertain. Trump’s allies have criticized the agency for its approach toward misinformation concerning COVID-19 and the 2020 election. During her confirmation hearing as Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem commented that the agency had strayed “far off mission.”

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed via email last week that some personnel are currently on leave, indicating that the agency is scrutinizing its execution of the election security mission, particularly in terms of “mis-, dis-, and malinformation” issues. Following a review, DHS stated it would take “appropriate actions” concerning these employees.

In light of the federal uncertainties, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has called on the Legislature to fund election security initiatives. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes expressed that while Trump may reorganize the federal landscape, his state relies heavily on CISA’s election services.

“I’m not too concerned about which agency provides them, but we must have these services in place,” Fontes stated.

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