Cuts to agency tasked with securing elections sparks concerns ahead of 2026 midterms

The federal agency tasked with securing US elections was largely absent during this year’s election, raising concerns among state officials about its readiness for the 2026 midterms.

The federal government’s cybersecurity agency, created in 2018, is responsible for helping state and local election officials by warning them about potential threats from foreign governments. It also provides guidance on protecting polling places from attacks and responding to bomb threats or other concerns. But staffing reductions and budget cuts under the Trump administration left the agency with a diminished presence in several states earlier this month. That absence has fueled questions about how the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will be involved next year during pivotal midterm elections that could shift the balance of power in Congress.

“We do not have a sense of whether we can rely on CISA for these services as we approach a big election year in 2026,” said Democrat Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, who previously led the bipartisan National Association of Secretaries of State, according to the Associated Press.

In February, the association’s leaders sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requesting that she preserve the agency’s core election functions. “I regret to say that months later, the letter remains very timely and relevant,” Simon said.

CISA was created during the first Trump administration to protect critical US infrastructure such as power plants and electrical systems. Since then, it has undergone significant reductions, with roughly 1,000 employees losing their jobs over the past few years. In March, the Trump administration cut $10 million from two cybersecurity initiatives, one of which focused on helping state and local election officials.

The AP reported that this came just weeks after CISA announced a review of its election-related work and placed more than a dozen election staffers on administrative leave. At the same time, the FBI disbanded a task force focused on foreign influence operations, including those targeting US elections.

CISA remains without an official director, as Trump’s nomination of Sean Plankey has stalled in the Senate. 

“Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem, CISA is laser-focused on securing America’s critical infrastructure and strengthening cyber resilience across the government and industry,” said Marci McCarthy, CISA’s director of public affairs.

However, Christine Serrano Glassner, the agency’s chief external affairs officer, said its experts are prepared to provide election guidance if requested.

“In the event of disruptions or threats to critical infrastructure, whether Election Day-related or not, CISA swiftly coordinates with the Office of Emergency Management and the appropriate federal, state and local authorities,” she said.