In a move that has raised concerns over the security of the upcoming U.S. elections, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has placed 17 employees on administrative leave. These individuals, responsible for safeguarding state and local election offices from cyber threats, have been sidelined pending an internal review, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Among those placed on leave are ten regional election security specialists, a key group tasked with assisting election officials across the country in mitigating cyber threats, ransomware attacks, and physical security risks. These specialists were recruited to enhance field expertise and forge strong relationships with state and local authorities ahead of the 2024 election. Many had previously worked in state or local election offices, bringing invaluable firsthand experience to their roles. Over the past year, they have been instrumental in providing guidance, conducting security assessments, and raising awareness of CISA’s cyber and physical security services.
The sudden move has sparked alarm among election officials, with bipartisan concerns emerging over the potential disruption to vital security services. Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, lauded the agency’s contributions, emphasising that their regional specialists have played an indispensable role in supporting local election clerks.
“The most value that we’ve got from CISA has been the people that they have on the ground in our state that build direct relationships, not just with us but with the individual county clerks,” Adams stated in a recent interview. “They’re teaching them and helping them check their physical security and their cyber hygiene, and that’s been extremely popular.”
Similarly, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, underscored the agency’s importance in securing elections against both domestic and foreign threats. “CISA has been a critical partner for state and local election officials, and I hope that leaders in the federal government who claim to care about election integrity will recognise that,” Benson remarked.
The remaining staffers affected by the administrative leave belong to CISA’s Election Security and Resilience team, reportedly under scrutiny for their role in combatting misinformation and disinformation campaigns. The review appears to be examining the agency’s strategies in addressing foreign interference, particularly efforts to counter propaganda from hostile nations attempting to undermine public confidence in U.S. elections.
These personnel decisions arrive at a time when the agency itself is facing mounting political pressure. The future of CISA has been questioned by Republican lawmakers and figures within the Trump administration, who argue that the agency has overstepped its remit.
Former President Donald Trump’s recently appointed Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, signalled a potential shift in CISA’s direction during her Senate confirmation hearing last month. She criticised the agency for “straying far off mission” and vowed to collaborate with senators to rein in its activities if necessary. Meanwhile, Trump has yet to appoint a new CISA director following the departure of Jen Easterly. The agency’s absence from recent meetings with state election officials in Washington has only fuelled speculation regarding its trajectory.
CISA was originally established in 2018 under the Trump administration to safeguard critical national infrastructure, including power plants, financial institutions, and electoral systems. Although operating within the Department of Homeland Security, the agency maintains independent leadership confirmed by the Senate.
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However, CISA’s work during the 2020 election and the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn ire from Trump and his allies. The agency played a role in flagging misinformation to social media companies, though officials maintain they never instructed platforms to take specific actions. As the 2024 election approaches, CISA has continued to monitor and alert the public about foreign disinformation campaigns, including recent Russian-linked fake videos purporting to depict election fraud in key battleground states.
While state election officials await clarity on the agency’s staffing and operational capacity, national organisations have refrained from commenting on the recent developments. The National Association of State Election Directors and the National Association of Secretaries of State have requested further information from CISA, with the latter confirming that the agency has assured them cybersecurity and physical security services will remain available.
With less than a year until the presidential election, the suspension of key election security personnel raises serious questions about the resilience of the U.S. electoral system. As misinformation, cyber threats, and concerns over election integrity continue to escalate, the absence of experienced security staff could leave state and local election offices vulnerable at a critical juncture.
