For months, headlines have highlighted the Trump administration’s push to expand its authority over elections, raising questions about how those changes could affect the process.
David Becker is the executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research. It is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works with election officials across the country to assist them in their work to ensure secure and accessible elections for all voters. “When people are worried, I understand. I mean, what they read in the news is that the federal government is constantly attacking elections,” he said.
The Trump administration has attempted to make significant changes to election processes, including tightening restrictions on mail-in ballots, proposing the SAVE America Act (which would, for example, require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to vote in federal elections), and eliminating Election Assistance Commission commissioners. Additionally, lawsuits have emerged in many states as the Justice Department seeks access to voter rolls to compare them to immigration data — a move Becker said the federal government does not have the authority to pursue.
“The information the DOJ is seeking includes Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and dates of birth. I call these three things the holy trinity of identity theft,” Becker said.
CISA staff cuts reshape electoral support
One of the most notable changes, however, is the downsizing of CISA. Created during President Donald Trump’s first term, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency was charged with protecting critical physical and cyber infrastructure, including election systems.
“They really earned credibility and respect from the states by hiring real election administration experts, real cybersecurity experts who could really provide states with resources that they might not have,” Becker said.
Hearst’s National Investigative Unit interviewed former CISA Director Jen Easterly about her dealings with local and state officials in 2024, ahead of the presidential election. She said: “The good news is that the election security community is strong. They are trained, they have practiced, we have built a great partnership with them.”
However, since Trump’s return to the White House, CISA’s staffing levels have been reduced and more than a dozen election security agents have been placed on leave.
“It completely destroyed any credibility and trust that had been built over time. And now, if you talk to election officials, Republicans and Democrats across the country, they’re not looking to the federal government for any support,” Becker said.
Election officials report fewer contacts and support
A survey conducted by the National Investigative Unit was sent to more than 7,500 state and local election officials, and 430 of them responded. While three-quarters of respondents said changes to federal election security support did not affect their office’s preparation for the 2026 midterm elections, some reported reduced contact with CISA, fewer security training opportunities, or limited access to services. Some election workers said their requests for help from CISA received little or no response.
We shared the results of our investigation and requested an interview with CISA, but it was declined. A spokesperson provided a comment that said in part:
“Election security is national security, and protecting our critical infrastructure remains a top priority for the Trump Administration. The Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency continue to work hand-in-hand with state leaders every day to protect the integrity and security of our elections.
“Upon request, CISA provides state and local election officials and election contractors with voluntary, free services, including technical expertise, vulnerability analysis, and resilience-building support. »
The agency says changes in organizational structure have not altered CISA’s commitment to supporting election officials.
State and local officials responsible for organizing elections
Ultimately, the federal government is not supposed to play any role in election administration. The Constitution says that state legislatures and states hold elections. Congress can also pass laws regarding elections, such as the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act.
“The federal government can help states prepare for elections, but state and local officials run and oversee them,” Becker said.
One thing that many experts have emphasized at the National Investigative Unit in the past is that those who run elections are neighbors in our communities. Experts worry that the political noise surrounding the federal government’s attempts will discourage confidence in the process and voter participation.
Becker adds that the real message to voters is to “cut through a lot of the noise, because none of it has any real effect on the hard work of election officials.”
He said: “Voting is incredibly safe, convenient and secure in this country. The best way to fend off those who worry about the November verdict is to break a record turnout and get as many voters as possible to vote.
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