How Will Cutting Millions For Cybersecurity Affect Future U.S. Elections?

Trump administration cuts $10 million from cybersecurity funding, spurring concerns about vulnerability of U.S. election systems as officials scramble to maintain security without critical resources.

Quick Takes

The Trump administration has halted federal funding for two major cybersecurity programs that support election security efforts, totaling approximately $10 million annually.
The cut impacts the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which provided cyber threat intelligence to election offices.
Over a dozen CISA staff members have been placed on administrative leave as part of a broader review of the agency’s election-related work.
State election officials, including secretaries of state from Minnesota and Maine, have expressed concerns about maintaining election security without these resources.

Funding Cuts to Critical Election Security Programs

The Trump administration has halted federal funding for two major cybersecurity programs that play crucial roles in securing U.S. election infrastructure. The cuts, totaling approximately $10 million annually, directly impact the nonprofit Center for Internet Security which operates programs that provide cyber threat intelligence and incident response support to election offices and local governments across the country. These cuts are part of a broader review of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) election-related activities, according to multiple reports. The review has also resulted in over a dozen staff members being placed on administrative leave.

The funding halt specifically impacts the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). These programs have been instrumental in providing state and local election officials with critical information about emerging cyber threats and coordinating responses to potential security breaches. The decision comes at a time when election security experts warn of increasing sophistication in cyber threats targeting election infrastructure across the country.

State Officials React with Concern

The National Association of Secretaries of State has requested clarification on how these funding cuts will impact election security operations. Several state election officials have already voiced their concerns about the potential consequences. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon expressed appreciation for the programs that are now losing funding, stating, “We got a lot out of it.” This sentiment reflects the value many state election officials placed on the information sharing and security support provided by these initiatives.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows highlighted the critical importance of these programs in countering cyber threats during past elections. She criticized the elimination of the initiative as both inefficient and dangerous given the sophistication of current cyber threats. Despite the challenges posed by these funding cuts, Bellows expressed determination, saying, “We will find a way to protect our elections.” This reflects the commitment of state officials to maintain election security even with reduced federal support.

Broader Implications for Election Security

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, established in 2018, is responsible for securing critical infrastructure, including voting systems. 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 absence of these resources could increase vulnerability to cyberattacks at a time when foreign and domestic threats to election infrastructure continue to evolve.

Further complicating matters, President Trump has not yet nominated a director for CISA, leaving its leadership uncertain. The agency has faced criticism from Republicans for its past efforts to counter misinformation about the 2020 election and the COVID-19 pandemic. The internal review of CISA’s election work is reportedly not intended for public release, raising questions about transparency in election security oversight. With the 2024 presidential election approaching, the timing of these funding cuts has heightened concerns about America’s preparedness to defend its election systems against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.