CISA Launches 'Securing the Next 250' Plan to Aid State Election Security Before Midterms
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a 13-page plan titled 'Securing the Next 250' on September 24, 2026, offering free cybersecurity resources to state and local election officials ahead of the midterm elections. This marks the first public election security initiative from CISA since the Trump administration scaled back such efforts in 2025. The plan provides penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and tabletop exercises for election infrastructure stakeholders, including polling places and ballot storage facilities. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin called the plan crucial for ensuring free and fair elections, while CISA Acting Director Nick Andersen emphasized a holistic approach to securing critical networks. The announcement comes weeks before the midterms, which will determine congressional control and offer insights into security challenges for the 2028 presidential race.
Key points
- CISA released the 'Securing the Next 250' plan on September 24, 2026, targeting state and local election officials.
- The plan offers free resources including on-site penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and access to tabletop exercises.
- This is the first public election security action from CISA since the Trump administration froze such efforts in 2025.
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated the plan is crucial for the security, freeness, and fairness of elections.
- The midterms will determine which party controls Congress and provide insights into security challenges for the 2028 presidential election.
Background
In August 2026, Trump declined to rule out declaring a national-security emergency to influence the 2026 midterms, signaling potential federal involvement in elections. In September 2026, local election officials braced for federal interference, including ballot seizures and ICE presence at polling places, while Democrats mobilized to shield the midterms from interference through legal challenges and turnout efforts. Courts had blocked several Trump-led attempts to reshape election rules, and the White House denied plans to deploy federal agents to polls.
Why it matters
The CISA plan aims to restore trust in voting systems and ensure physical safety measures at polling locations, countering concerns about federal interference and cyber threats. It provides critical resources to state and local election officials who have faced reduced federal support and increased concerns about potential interference in the midterms. The plan underscores the importance of election security as a national security issue, despite ongoing debates and tensions between federal and state authorities.
What to watch
State and local election officials are expected to evaluate and utilize the resources provided in the 'Securing the Next 250' plan. The midterms will serve as a test case for the effectiveness of these security measures and may influence future election security strategies. Ongoing tensions between federal and state authorities over election administration and potential interference will likely continue to shape the political landscape.
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