What Happened to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Midterm Security Efforts under the Trump Administration?
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), established in 2018 under the first Trump administration, initially garnered bipartisan support for its critical role in securing U.S. election infrastructure. However, following the 2020 election and the firing of Director Chris Krebs, the agency's election security efforts faced significant dismantling during the second Trump administration, including budget cuts, staff reductions, and a halt to key programs. As of mid-2026, despite a late attempt to re-engage, trust with state and local election officials is severely eroded, and the administration has proposed eliminating CISA's election security program entirely in its FY27 budget.
Quick Answer
CISA's election security efforts, once a bipartisan success, have been largely dismantled under the second Trump administration, which began in 2025. Key programs, funding, and personnel dedicated to election security were cut, and support for vital information-sharing centers was halted. As of July 2026, the administration is attempting a late 'rebuild' of these efforts, but state and local election officials express deep skepticism and concern over depleted resources and damaged trust, especially with the proposed elimination of CISA's election security program in the FY27 budget.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
DHS Designates Election Systems as Critical Infrastructure
In the final days of the Obama administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated election systems as critical infrastructure, a move initially met with alarm by state officials but which laid the groundwork for federal cybersecurity support.
CISA Established
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) was officially established within DHS, during the first Trump administration, to lead federal efforts in securing critical infrastructure, including election systems.
2018 Midterms Declared 'Most Secure'
CISA Director Chris Krebs testified before Congress that the 2018 midterm elections were "the most secure election held in the modern era in the U.S.," highlighting CISA's success in bringing cybersecurity resources to state and local election groups.
2020 Election Declared 'Most Secure'
CISA and the Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council Executive Committee issued a joint statement affirming that the 2020 presidential election was "the most secure in American history," despite claims of fraud.
CISA Director Chris Krebs Fired
President Trump fired CISA Director Chris Krebs via tweet, days after Krebs publicly refuted claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election.
CISA Holds 'Tabletop the Vote' for 2022 Midterms
CISA, in coordination with election partners, hosted its fifth annual 'Tabletop the Vote' exercise, the nation's largest election security exercise, to prepare for the 2022 midterm elections.
CISA Reports No Material Impact on 2022 Election Security
Following the 2022 midterms, CISA reported no specific or credible threats disrupted election infrastructure and no evidence of malicious activity materially impacting the security or integrity of the elections.
CISA Election Security Staff Placed on Leave, Internal Review Begins
Soon after President Trump's second administration began, 17 CISA election-security employees were placed on administrative leave, and CISA's broader election-security activities were subjected to an internal review.
CISA Halts Federal Support for EI-ISAC and Election Security Programs
CISA confirmed it had suspended or dismantled federal support for election security, including ending funding for the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC), stating it no longer supported department priorities.
Significant CISA Workforce Reductions
By mid-2025, nearly 1,000 CISA personnel, approximately one-third of the agency's workforce, had left or been removed from active service, with many election-focused programs shut down.
Acting CISA Chief Defends Cuts, Claims Agency 'Back on Mission'
Acting CISA chief defended the workforce cuts, stating the Trump administration was putting CISA "back on mission" by eliminating activities beyond core responsibilities, including monitoring misinformation.
FY27 Budget Proposes Eliminating CISA Election Security Program
The Trump administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget included a plan to eliminate CISA's election security program entirely, cutting funding for information-sharing and election security advisors.
Senator Warner Raises Alarm Over CISA Pullback
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) demanded answers from DHS regarding a sharp decline in federal election security support, warning that CISA cuts could leave states vulnerable for the 2026 midterms.
DHS Secretary Mullin Links CISA Support to Voter Roll Maintenance
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced that the Trump administration would condition CISA election security support on states using a federal database to maintain their voter rolls, a move seen as expanding federal oversight.
Trump Administration Attempts Late 'Rebuild' of Election Security
Less than 100 days before the 2026 midterms, the Trump administration announced plans to reassign staff and release a new election security plan, but state officials express skepticism due to depleted resources and damaged trust.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) was established in November 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term, building upon the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) 2017 designation of election systems as critical infrastructure. CISA's mandate was to provide cybersecurity and physical security assistance to state and local election officials, fostering a collaborative, non-partisan approach to protecting the nation's voting systems. Under its first director, Chris Krebs, CISA was widely praised for its efforts in securing the 2018 midterms, which Krebs declared the "most secure election held in the modern era in the U.S.". This collaborative model continued through the 2020 presidential election, with CISA and its partners issuing a joint statement affirming the 2020 election as "the most secure in American history".
However, this declaration directly contradicted President Trump's unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud, leading to Krebs' dismissal via tweet in November 2020. This event marked a significant turning point, signaling a shift in the administration's stance towards CISA's independent assessments of election security. While CISA continued its work under the Biden administration, including robust support for the 2022 midterms and the 2024 general election, the foundations of trust built with state partners began to face new pressures.
Upon President Trump's return to office in early 2025, CISA's election security efforts faced a systematic dismantling. In February 2025, 17 CISA election-security employees were placed on administrative leave, and the agency's broader election-security activities were subjected to an internal review. By March 2025, CISA formally halted federal support for the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC) and other election security programs, citing that they "no longer supports Department priorities". By mid-2025, nearly 1,000 CISA personnel, approximately one-third of the agency's workforce, had left or been removed from active service, with many election-focused positions eliminated. The administration also significantly reduced CISA's role in combating election misinformation, a move criticized by experts but defended by acting CISA leadership as putting the agency "back on mission" away from "narrative management".
The consequences of these actions have been profound. State and local election officials report a collapse of trust in CISA, weakening federal support for election security ahead of the 2026 midterms. Relationships painstakingly built over years have been "destroyed," leaving states to scramble for alternative cybersecurity and intelligence-sharing solutions. In April 2026, the Trump administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget further exacerbated concerns by recommending the elimination of CISA's election security program entirely, including funding for information-sharing and election security advisors. This proposed cut amounts to roughly $700 million across CISA programs, with a net reduction of about $360 million.
As of July 31, 2026, the Trump administration is attempting a late and controversial effort to "rebuild" its election security infrastructure for the upcoming midterms. This includes reassigning remaining staff into new liaison roles and promising a public plan for cyber and physical security resources. However, election officials and non-partisan experts are highly skeptical, arguing that it is too late in the election cycle for meaningful changes and that CISA's hollowed-out workforce cannot deliver adequate support. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has also controversially linked CISA election security support to states' participation in a federal program to maintain voter rolls, a move seen as an attempt to expand federal oversight over state election procedures. Critics, including Senator Mark Warner, warn that these cuts and the damaged relationships could leave states vulnerable to cyber threats and foreign interference in the 2026 elections.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Midterm Security Efforts under the Trump Administration made different choices?