Trump’s Gutting of Election Security Fuels Worries for Midterms

President Trump has significantly reduced the capabilities of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the federal entity he established during his first term to protect critical infrastructure and election systems. According to officials quoted in the report, the agency's diminished resources and authority could leave elections vulnerable to cyberattacks and foreign interference operations. CISA has played a central role since 2016 in helping states and localities secure voting systems and detect intrusion attempts during federal elections. The timing raises particular concerns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, when election security typically comes under heightened scrutiny. Critics argue the moves contradict the original mission of an agency Trump created to address vulnerabilities exposed during the 2016 presidential campaign.