Democrats Urge DHS to Fund Election Security Before Midterms

Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Rep. Joseph Morelle of New York, both ranking members of their respective committees, have written to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Nick Anderson, the acting head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, demanding the restoration of over $39.6 million in election security funding. This funding was legislated in the fiscal year 2026 DHS Appropriations bill passed in April.

The lawmakers expressed grave concern about the limited time remaining before the midterm elections and the need to assist state and local election officials in safeguarding elections from cyber threats and misinformation. They specifically pointed out funding gaps for the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which has been limited in its services due to prior funding cuts.

The letter emphasized the increasing complexity of foreign election meddling, particularly from adversaries like Russia and Iran, and the urgent need for resources to combat these threats, especially in light of ongoing conflicts and rising cyberattacks.