June 01, 2026
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, led Committee Democrats in demanding answers from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin regarding the Department’s plans to implement recently appropriated election security funding after the Trump administration dismantled key election security programs and damaged longstanding relationships with State and local election officials.
In a letter to Secretary Mullin, the Members raised concerns that the Trump administration previously dismantled popular CISA election security programs, including Election Security Advisors and support for the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC), and has a short window to re-initiate these programs now that despite Congress has provided $39.6 million for those efforts.
“Congress rejected the Trump Administration’s attempt to abdicate the Federal government’s election security obligations,” the Members wrote. “Over the past 18 months, however, actions taken by the Department damaged many of the trusted relationships CISA spent nearly a decade building with State and local election officials.”
“It is critical for the Committee on Homeland Security to understand how CISA is fulfilling its election infrastructure security obligations and how it plans to spend its FY 2026 election security budget,” the Members added.
The Members demanded information about CISA’s recent election security review, the agency’s plans for restoring partnerships with election officials, staffing and funding plans for election security programs, the future of EI-ISAC and Election Security Advisors, and how DHS intends to use its FY 2026 election security funding to support State and local election officials ahead of the midterm elections.
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