The Trump administration is swiftly dismantling long-standing efforts to counter foreign interference in U.S. elections, a campaign that began during Trump’s first term following revelations about Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 election.
Sources indicate that key personnel, including those focused on combatting foreign misinformation and a team of regional election security advisers at the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), have been placed on administrative leave.
Additionally, Attorney General Pam Bondi has disbanded an FBI task force aimed at tackling foreign influence operations related to countries like Russia and China, citing a need to allocate resources to pressing priorities and mitigate risks associated with prosecutorial discretion. The Justice Department’s enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act has also been rolled back, affecting the prosecution of individuals receiving covert foreign funding.
Experts in technology, human rights, and digital governance at the United States Agency for International Development are now unable to continue their work as the agency faces shutdown efforts under the Trump administration, potentially allowing adversaries like Russia and China to fill the void.
In his first term, Trump often expressed frustration over allegations of Russian interference on his behalf. Yet, U.S. officials have reported interference attempts from adversaries such as Iran aimed at undermining Trump’s candidacy. Despite his claims of a “stolen” 2020 election, which lacked evidence, these assertions were countered by CISA, leading to the dismissal of its director.
CISA and DHS have not provided comments regarding the changes. Election security experts are alarmed by the targeting of civil servants dedicated to safeguarding elections against misinformation and security threats like ransomware. While some employees remain in CISA, the future of their roles is uncertain.
“Every reduction in our election security and foreign influence operations essentially aids foreign adversaries such as Russia, China, and Iran,” warned a former state official. “This undermines our national security and increases Americans’ vulnerability during elections.”
As the co-chair of the National Association of Secretaries of State’s Elections Committee during the 2020 election, she highlighted the critical support from CISA and the FBI task force to local election officials, emphasizing the serious implications of their loss.
CISA Established in 2018
During the 2018 signing of the bill that established CISA, Trump emphasized the need to confront threats from nation-states and cybercriminals.
CISA, in addition to its national security mission, was tasked with election security responsibilities. Tensions have existed between Trump and those investigating Russian disinformation’s impact on the 2016 election; while special counsel Robert Mueller couldn’t prove collusion, he confirmed Russian interference aimed at supporting Trump’s campaign.
Trump has consistently labeled the Mueller investigation a “hoax.” During the 2020 elections, he propagated numerous false narratives, including unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud, leading to significant contestation after Biden’s victory. CISA addressed many of these assertions through a dedicated platform, ultimately resulting in the dismissal of its then-director.
Post-election, Republicans criticized CISA, claiming the agency overstepped its role and infringed on free speech, which CISA’s leadership disputes. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, in her confirmation hearing, asserted her commitment to limiting CISA’s role in combating disinformation from nations like Russia, China, and Iran.
After the Trump administration began its second term, experts hoped to preserve CISA’s functions amid a reduction in criticism. However, on February 5, eligible CISA employees were presented with deferred resignation options in exchange for financial incentives. The legality and funding for these offers remain uncertain.
If you have information regarding the ongoing changes at CISA or across the federal government, please reach out to us.
