Federal Actions Undermine Election Security Against Foreign Interference

The Trump administration has disbanded an FBI task force investigating foreign influence on elections and placed election security personnel at CISA on leave, raising concerns about election security. The changes create significant gaps for potential foreign interference, alarming experts and state officials who depend on federal support for securing elections from threats.

The Trump administration has recently disbanded an FBI task force dedicated to investigating foreign influence in U.S. elections and placed several election security personnel at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on leave. This action raises concerns about potential gaps in election security that adversaries may exploit during future elections. Suzanne Spaulding, former cyber chief at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), emphasized the importance of maintaining defensive measures against foreign threats.

The dismantling of federal efforts to monitor election interference undermines the security infrastructure that protects U.S. elections from foreign manipulation. With key personnel removed and programs paused, state officials express concern over their ability to safeguard elections without federal support. The recent changes signal that election security may no longer be a federal priority, raising the risk of adverse foreign actions affecting election integrity.

Original Source: abcnews.go.com