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The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been forced to freeze all its efforts to aid states in securing their elections, following Trump's executive order and criticism from conservatives. This decision represents a significant shift in the agency's mission and marks a major blow to efforts to improve election security in the United States.
CISA has been forced to freeze all efforts to aid states in securing their elections due to President Trump's false claims of election fraud and online censorship. The agency is conducting a thorough review and assessment of its positions, products, activities, and programs related to election security. Employees initially identified with the elections security activities have been placed on administrative leave. Funding for the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing & Analysis Center has been cut off. CISA's focus on mis- and disinformation has led to criticism from conservatives, who argue that the agency censored their speech. The US Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit over CISA's work, but the agency has since halted most conversations with tech platforms about online mis- and disinformation.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the top US agency responsible for ensuring the security of critical infrastructure, including election systems, has been forced to freeze all its efforts to aid states in securing their elections. This decision marks a significant shift in the agency's mission and represents the first major example of the country’s cyber defense agency accommodating President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud and online censorship.
In an internal memo viewed by WIRED, CISA’s acting director, Bridget Bean, announced that the agency would conduct a thorough review and assessment of all positions related to election security, as well as every product, activity, service, and program that has been carried out since 2017. This move comes after Trump issued an executive order on January 20, instructing the attorney general to work with other agency leaders to investigate Biden-administration activities that are “inconsistent” with Trump’s vow to end online censorship.
The memo, which was sent to all CISA employees and obtained by WIRED, confirmed that CISA had placed employees "initially identified to be associated with the elections security activities and the MDM program" on administrative leave on February 7. The agency is also cutting off funding for these activities at the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing & Analysis Center, a group funded by the Department of Homeland Security that has served as a coordinating body for the elections community.
CISA's decision to freeze its election security work comes after conservatives began criticizing the agency for its focus on mis- and disinformation. In 2020, during Trump’s final year in office, CISA coordinated with tech companies to identify online misinformation, a move that was justified as necessary to prevent the spread of false claims about voting machines and mass voter fraud.
However, since then, conservatives have argued that CISA censored their speech by coordinating with these platforms. The US Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit over the government’s work, but in the wake of the backlash, CISA halted most conversations with tech platforms about online mis- and disinformation.
The agency's decision to freeze its election security work represents a significant shift in the country’s approach to ensuring the security of critical infrastructure. In recent years, state and local election officials have relied on CISA’s expertise and resources—as well as its partnerships with other agencies—to improve their physical and digital security.
Through on-site consultations and online guidance, CISA has helped election administrators secure voting systems against hackers, harden polling places against active shooters, and create polling-place backup plans to deal with ballot shortages or power outages. Election supervisors have always struggled to overcome serious funding challenges, but in recent years, their jobs have become even more stressful as intense voter scrutiny has given way to harassment and even death threats.
Election officials of both parties have repeatedly praised CISA for its apolitical support of their work, saying the agency’s recommendations and free security services have been critical in boosting their own efforts. However, with conservatives pushing to axe CISA’s election security mission, Trump’s election last November virtually guaranteed an end to that program.
The review and assessment of CISA's election security activities will conclude on March 6, according to Bean. The agency is also working to streamline its services for states and local governments, ensuring that its activities align with its new "mandate to refocus" on its core mission, and removing all personnel, contracts, grants, programs, products, services, and activities that conflict with Trump’s anti-censorship directive or exceed CISA’s authorities.
The consequences of CISA's decision are far-reaching and have significant implications for the country's election security landscape. As one former government official noted, "This is a major blow to the efforts to improve election security in the United States." The agency's freeze on its election security work marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to ensuring the security of critical infrastructure.
Related Information:
https://www.wired.com/story/cisa-election-security-freeze-memo/
Published: Fri Feb 14 21:35:30 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
