The Trump administration has made significant cuts to federal funding for cybersecurity initiatives, particularly impacting state and local election officials. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has terminated approximately $10 million in annual funding to the nonprofit Center for Internet Security, raising concerns about election security amid fears of foreign meddling in U.S. elections. This move follows an ongoing review of CISA’s election-related work, leading to the placement of several election-focused staffers on administrative leave and the disbandment of an FBI task force investigating foreign influence operations.

Criticism from Republicans regarding CISA’s handling of misinformation related to the 2020 election and the pandemic has fueled the decision to cut funding, with the agency emphasizing a shift towards focusing on critical infrastructure. Two key initiatives affected by the cuts are the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, both housed within the Center for Internet Security. These initiatives provided cyber threat intelligence, incident response, and support for state and local government officials.

The National Association of Secretaries of State and election officials across the country have expressed concerns about the impact of these funding cuts, emphasizing the importance of continued support for election security efforts. Despite these challenges, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows highlighted the crucial role of the election information sharing initiative in protecting elections against cyber threats, underscoring the need for sustained cybersecurity measures in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.