Summary
U.S. election officials are facing upcoming elections with reduced federal support due to budget cuts and staffing reductions. Federal agencies that once helped with election security by monitoring threats have reduced their involvement, leaving local officials to find other ways to secure their systems. As a result, state and local election offices are building new networks to compensate for the decreased federal assistance.
Key Facts
- Federal support for U.S. election security has decreased due to budget cuts and staffing reductions.
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is not operating its election monitoring room this year.
- The Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC) lost its federal funding.
- Local election offices have fewer resources and less guidance from federal agencies.
- State and local officials are conducting their own security exercises and building new networks.
- Federal monitors were sent to polling sites in some states, which some voting rights groups see as politically motivated.
- Trust between federal and local election officials has been affected, and rebuilding it may take time.
