State Election Officials Report Reduced CISA Support Ahead of 2026 Midterms

Federal support for election security has significantly diminished in recent months, prompting concerns among state officials regarding preparedness for the 2026 midterm elections. According to a report by the Associated Press, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) was largely absent from planning operations for the November 2025 elections in several states. Officials cite shifting priorities within the administration of President Donald Trump, alongside staffing reductions and budget cuts, as primary factors contributing to the reduced federal engagement.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat and former leader of the National Association of Secretaries of State, stated that states are currently unsure if they can rely on CISA for essential services moving forward. The association reportedly sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in February requesting the preservation of the agency’s core election functions. According to Simon, Secretary Noem has not yet responded to the inquiry.

CISA, established in 2018 to protect critical infrastructure, has undergone a transformation since the beginning of President Trump’s second term in January 2025. Public records indicate that approximately 1,000 CISA employees have been terminated over the past year. Additionally, in March, the administration cut $10 million from two cybersecurity initiatives, including one specifically designed to assist state and local election officials. This reduction followed an agency review of election-related work, during which more than a dozen staff members were placed on administrative leave.

Leadership vacancies further complicate the agency’s operational capacity. CISA remains without a confirmed director, as President Trump’s nomination of cybersecurity expert Sean Plankey has stalled in the Senate. Despite these challenges, CISA spokespersons maintain that the agency is functioning effectively. Marci McCarthy, CISA’s director of public affairs, stated that the agency is “laser-focused on securing America’s critical infrastructure” under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem. Christine Serrano Glassner, the agency’s chief external affairs officer, added that experts remain ready to provide guidance if requested.

State-level officials, however, report a disconnect. The California Secretary of State’s office informed the Associated Press that CISA provided minimal assistance during the state’s November 4 special election. The office noted that CISA alerted California officials in September that it would withdraw from a task force supporting county election offices. Consequently, local officials in Orange County and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services were required to fill security gaps independently. Similar absences of federal coordination were reported by election offices in Mississippi and Pennsylvania.

Election Infrastructure Outlook

The reduction in centralized federal support marks a significant shift in the operational landscape of United States election security. For several cycles, CISA served as a unifying resource, providing standardized threat intelligence and technical exercises that bridged the gap between well-funded and under-resourced jurisdictions. The current withdrawal suggests a move toward a decentralized security model, where the robustness of election infrastructure will increasingly depend on individual state budgets and local partnerships with law enforcement. This fragmentation risks creating disparities in cybersecurity readiness across the nation as preparations begin for the high-stakes 2026 midterm cycle.