Funding Cuts To Cybersecurity Raises Questions For Election Security Efforts

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The Trump administration halts $10 million in cybersecurity funding for election security programs, raising concerns about the nation’s ability to defend against potential cyber threats during future elections.

Key Takeaways

Funding of approximately $10 million annually for the nonprofit Center for Internet Security has been cut as part of a broader review of CISA’s election-related work.
The funding halt affects the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center and Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which provided threat intelligence to election offices.
Over a dozen CISA staff members have been placed on administrative leave during this internal review process.
State election officials from Minnesota and Maine have expressed concern about losing valuable cybersecurity resources.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) currently lacks a nominated director amid these organizational changes.

Funding Cuts Impact Election Security Programs

The Trump administration has suspended federal funding for two major cybersecurity programs that support election security across the United States. The decision affects approximately $10 million in annual funding for the nonprofit Center for Internet Security, which manages critical cybersecurity initiatives. The suspended programs include the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), both of which have provided essential cyber threat intelligence and incident response support to election offices and local governments nationwide.

This funding suspension comes as part of a broader internal review of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) election-related work. CISA, established in 2018, is tasked with securing critical infrastructure, including voting systems. The review has also resulted in over a dozen staff members being placed on administrative leave, further disrupting the agency’s operations during a time when cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and intensify.

State Officials Express Concerns

State election officials across the country have voiced their concerns about the potential impact of these funding cuts on election security. The National Association of Secretaries of State has formally requested clarification regarding how these funding cuts will affect state and local election administration. Many states have come to rely on these cybersecurity resources as part of their defense strategy against foreign and domestic threats targeting election systems.

“We got a lot out of it,” said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, highlighting the value his state received from the now-defunded programs.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows emphasized the importance of these programs in countering cyber threats during previous elections. She characterized the elimination of these initiatives as inefficient and potentially dangerous given the sophisticated nature of current cyber threats. Despite the funding cuts, Bellows expressed determination, stating that states “will find a way to protect our elections,” though likely with more difficulty and potentially less effectiveness without federal support.

Broader Implications for Election Security

Election security experts have criticized the move, warning that it could increase vulnerability to cyberattacks at a time when election systems face sophisticated threats. Larry Norden from the Brennan Center for Justice expressed “grave concern for state and local election officials and for the security of our elections going forward” in response to the funding cuts. The timing of these changes has raised additional concerns, as they come without a nominated director for CISA, leaving its leadership uncertain amid growing cybersecurity challenges.

CISA has faced criticism from Republicans for its past efforts to counter misinformation about the 2020 election and the COVID-19 pandemic. The current review of CISA’s election work is being conducted internally and is not intended for public release, according to administration officials. This lack of transparency has added to concerns among election security professionals about the future of federal support for state and local election cybersecurity efforts.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency continues to face these organizational changes while its critical mission of protecting election infrastructure remains. Without stable funding for these programs, state and local election officials may need to seek alternative resources to maintain cybersecurity protections for upcoming elections, potentially creating inconsistencies in security measures across different jurisdictions.