CISA gutted by Trump administration as states brace for 2026 midterms without federal help
ProPublica reports that the Trump administration has dismantled the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), leaving state election officials to secure the 2026 midterms alone. The agency lost over 1,000 staff and faced a $700 million budget cut, while political appointees requested CISA secretly hack voting machines. State officials now distrust CISA after the administration released confidential data and revived debunked 2020 election claims, forcing states to fund their own security measures.
Key points
- Political appointees at the Department of Homeland Security requested CISA secretly acquire and hack a voting machine to provide findings to the White House, a move career staffers viewed as political interference.
- The Trump administration has laid off or pushed out more than 1,000 CISA employees, shrinking the agency by one-third, with a 2027 budget proposal threatening 900 more cuts.
- State election officials report CISA was 'nonexistent' during critical 2026 midterm planning, forcing them to pay for their own sensor technology and security measures.
- The administration released confidential data shared by states with CISA to support debunked 2020 election claims, destroying the trust necessary for federal-state information sharing.
- CISA released a last-minute 13-page security plan in September 2026, but state officials remain skeptical of its utility and the administration's motives.
Background
CISA was established in 2018 under President Trump to protect critical infrastructure, including elections, after Russian interference in 2016. The agency built trust with state officials through confidential data sharing and security testing. However, Trump fired CISA director Chris Krebs in 2020 for rebutting election fraud claims. In his second term, the administration used DOGE to cut CISA staff and funding, reversing the agency's role in election security.
Why it matters
The dismantling of CISA leaves U.S. elections vulnerable to cyberattacks without federal support, as state officials must rely on limited resources. The loss of trust between federal and state agencies could undermine election integrity and enable political interference, with potential consequences for the 2026 midterms and future democratic processes.
What to watch
State election officials will continue to fund their own security measures for the 2026 midterms, while Democratic lawmakers push for investigations into CISA's capabilities. The administration's 2027 budget proposal may lead to further cuts, and CISA's last-minute security plan will be evaluated for its effectiveness in the coming months.
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