CISA Halts Election Security Efforts Following Trump Executive Order

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has paused all election security activities and launched a review of its programs under a directive to address alleged federal censorship.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has suspended all election security activities pending a review of its work since 2017, following an executive order from President Trump on 'ending federal censorship.'
CISA's acting director, Bridget Bean, has initiated a comprehensive assessment of the agency's election security roles, programs, and funding, with findings due by March 6.
Twelve CISA employees associated with election security and misinformation programs have been placed on administrative leave, with the Department of Homeland Security moving to terminate their employment.
The review aligns with conservative criticisms of CISA's previous efforts to counter misinformation, which some have argued infringed on free speech and exceeded the agency's mandate.
Election officials have expressed concerns over the suspension, as CISA has been a key resource in securing election infrastructure against physical and cyber threats since its designation as critical infrastructure in 2017.