Trump halts funds for election cybersecurity programs

The Trump administration has significantly reduced federal funding allocated to two pivotal cybersecurity programs, including one specifically intended to aid state and local election officials. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, commonly known as CISA, has confirmed the cessation of approximately $10 million in annual support to the nonprofit Center for Internet Security, as relayed by a CISA representative through an email on Monday.
The decision marks an ongoing effort by Trump administration officials to curtail the federal government’s involvement in safeguarding election security, a move that is fueling concerns about decreasing safeguards against foreign interference in U.S. elections.
Recently, CISA had announced a comprehensive review of its election-oriented activities, leading to over a dozen employees involved in these areas being placed on administrative leave. This decision coincided with the administration’s dismantling of an FBI task force dedicated to investigating foreign influence operations, including those targeting U.S. electoral processes.
Larry Norden, a recognized election security specialist at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU’s School of Law, expressed significant worries about the implications for state and local election officials, as well as the future security of elections.
In previous years, CISA has faced ongoing criticism from Republican circles for its past endeavors to combat misinformation surrounding the 2020 presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic. Former leadership at CISA had asserted that the agency’s involvement never extended to censorship; rather, they collaborated with states to help flag misinformation to social media platforms.
Inquiries made on Monday about the status of CISA’s review were met with confirmation from an agency representative, stating it was an internal assessment aimed at optimizing future support for critical infrastructure, with no intention for public dissemination.
The two cybersecurity initiatives affected by the funding cuts are the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, both integral to state, local, and tribal governance. Organized by the nonprofit Center for Internet Security, these initiatives covered areas such as cyber threat intelligence and response, as well as coordination with government officials.
CISA clarified that by ending these funding channels, the agency aims to concentrate on its mission-critical endeavors and avoid overlapping functions. Following this adjustment, the Center for Internet Security announced online its withdrawal of support for the election-specific program. However, no response was received from their spokesperson regarding inquiries on the impact of these financial cuts.
The National Association of Secretaries of State, which includes leading election officials nationwide, is actively seeking clarification from CISA concerning these decisions and the recent election-specific evaluations, as stated by Steve Simon, Minnesota Secretary of State and president of the bipartisan assembly.
Simon emphasized awaiting further clarification before forming conclusions, highlighting that the executive board had recently communicated with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, advocating for continued support from CISA to state and local election administrators, especially support for the election information sharing center.
CISA operates under the Department of Homeland Security but maintains its own Senate-confirmed director. President Donald Trump has not yet appointed a candidate for this director role. Established in 2018 during Trump’s initial term, the agency’s mission is to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure, which includes sectors such as energy, finance, and electoral systems.
Representatives from the National Association of State Election Directors also anticipate further insights from the Center for Internet Security regarding the implications of these federal funding reductions.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, previously chair of the committee for election information sharing, stressed the initiative’s vital role during the last presidential elections, when live reporting of cyber threats enabled Maine to fend off attacks against its networks. Acknowledging the high sophistication of such cyber threats, Bellows underscored the inefficiency and substantial risks associated with terminating the information sharing program.
“We will adapt to protect our elections,” said Bellows, emphasizing the dangers posed by cutting such critical initiatives.