Washington, D.C. — Two Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Department of Homeland Security to release nearly $40 million in election security funding that Congress approved earlier this year, warning that states and localities are running out of time before the November midterms.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-N.Y., sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Nick Anderson seeking restoration of $39.6 million for election security programs.
The lawmakers said funding gaps have weakened the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which once provided free cybersecurity threat information to state and local election officials. Following funding cuts in 2025, the center shifted to a paid membership model that Padilla and Morelle said smaller jurisdictions may be unable to afford.
They also cited reductions in CISA staffing and proposed budget cuts as threats to election preparedness, particularly amid increased cyber activity linked to foreign adversaries including Iran, Russia and China.
The lawmakers argued that artificial intelligence and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks have made election systems more vulnerable to disruption, information operations and attempts to undermine public confidence.
DHS and CISA did not immediately respond to NPR’s request for comment.
Padilla and Morelle said the administration may not be able to rebuild trust with election officials before November but still has an obligation to distribute congressionally approved funding and maintain regional election security support.
Sources
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