Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Nick Anderson on September 2, 2026, requesting the release of election security funds. The lawmakers sought an explanation for why more than $39.6 million in federal funding, appropriated in April 2026 as part of the fiscal year 2026 DHS Appropriations bill, has not yet reached state and local election programs.
The request follows personnel and funding reductions within federal cybersecurity agencies. In early 2025, the Trump administration terminated approximately 400 DHS employees, including more than 130 at CISA. During the same period, federal funding was discontinued for the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC), a program that provided threat monitoring and intelligence to local election offices. While a paid membership model was introduced, the lawmakers noted that under-resourced jurisdictions could not afford the fees.
In their letter, Padilla and Morelle stated that time is running out to assist officials ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. They cited recent cyberattacks attributed to Iran, including July and August 2026 breaches of water utility systems in Minnesota, Michigan, and New Jersey. The lawmakers also pointed to foreign interference capabilities from Russia and China, which they stated are likely increasing due to advancements in artificial intelligence.
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver reported that her office is "scrambling" to preserve these tools. David J. Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research stated that the lack of federal support appears to be "unilaterally disarming." Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes alleged the current DHS posture mirrors other administrative changes, such as U.S. Postal Service rules affecting mail voting. The lawmakers have given Secretary Mullin until September 9, 2026, to provide a status update on the disbursement of funds and the hiring of critical election staff at CISA. The midterm elections take place in two months.