Election Security Workforce Reductions Under Trump’s Second Term

Since returning to the White House, President Trump’s administration has seen a significant decline in the workforce of the lead federal partner for state election security. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has experienced a loss of around one-third of its personnel since January 2025. This reduction affects the agency’s ability to manage election security effectively.

During his first term, President Trump appointed Christopher Krebs as a top cybersecurity aide, who played a crucial role in validating the integrity of the 2020 election. Despite this, later actions from the administration led to distrust and eventual dismissal of Krebs. President Trump continues to express concerns about election security but does not acknowledge the cuts made during his second term that have impacted CISA’s capabilities.

CISA, established in Trump’s first term, was a cornerstone in coordinating with states on election security, providing essential cybersecurity practices and intelligence on foreign activities. However, the administration’s relationship with the agency soured, resulting in workforce reductions and investigations that impacted morale.

Other federal entities like the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have also scaled back their efforts related to election security. The Foreign Malign Influence Center, crucial for tracking foreign election threats, saw significant reductions under the leadership of Tulsi Gabbard.

Additionally, President Trump recently removed the last members of the Election Assistance Commission, an independent agency providing critical election support to states. The commission had increasingly devoted resources to helping states bolster their cybersecurity defenses.

Dustin Volz, a writer based in Washington, reports on these developments in cybersecurity and intelligence for The Times.