Anchor
Democrats demand DHS release withheld election security funds before midterms
Rule ChangesCongress directed the money in April; two months before voting day, none of it has reached local election offices
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Overview
Updated 1 hour agoTwo months before the midterms, the federal agency built to protect election systems hasn't spent a cent of the money Congress told it to use. Top Democrats on both election committees are demanding the Department of Homeland Security release $39.6 million earmarked for local election security, with a response due September 9.
The money was supposed to restore funding for the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC), a network that gave roughly 3,700 local election offices free cyber-threat monitoring and rapid incident response in 2024. The Trump administration cut that funding in March 2025. Without it, officials warn, two-thirds of partner states and thousands of local governments will lose coverage heading into November 3.
Why it matters
If the $39.6M stays locked, thousands of local election offices lose free cyber-threat monitoring two months before the midterms.
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Key Indicators
$39.6M
Election security funds appropriated but not distributed
Congress directed DHS to spend this on election security in the FY2026 budget; none has reached EI-ISAC.
3,700
Election jurisdictions served by EI-ISAC in 2024
Local offices received free threat intelligence, intrusion analysis, and rapid incident response.
2/3
Share of state partners expected to leave EI-ISAC
Federal funding cuts are projected to force out two-thirds of states and thousands of local governments.
61 days
Days until the midterm elections
November 3 is the deadline against which the funding dispute is measured.
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Democrats demand DHS release withheld election security funds before midterms
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People Involved
Alex Padilla
U.S. Senator (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee
Co-authored the September 3 letter demanding DHS release the funds
Joe Morelle
U.S. Representative (D-N.Y.-25), ranking member of the House Administration Committee
Co-authored the September 3 letter alongside Padilla
Markwayne Mullin
Secretary of Homeland Security
Recipient of the Democrats' letter; has not released the $39.6 million
NA
Nicholas Andersen
Acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Recipient of the Democrats' letter; some reports render his name Nick Anderson
Kristi Noem
Former Secretary of Homeland Security
Oversaw the 2025 termination of EI-ISAC federal funding
Organizations Involved
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Federal Agency
Withholding $39.6M in congressionally directed election security funds
The DHS agency that protects election infrastructure and runs the federal side of EI-ISAC partnerships.
EI
Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center
Non-profit partnership
Running on a paid membership model after federal funding was cut
A voluntary network run by the non-profit Center for Internet Security that gives local election offices cyber-threat intelligence and incident response.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Federal Agency
Has not distributed the $39.6M Congress directed for election security
The federal agency housing CISA; Congress directed it to restore election security funding in the FY2026 budget.
Timeline
March 2025 November 2026
8 events
Latest: 3 days ago
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-
Midterm elections
Upcoming EventElection day — the deadline against which the funding dispute and its security gaps are measured.
-
Padilla and Morelle demand DHS release the funds
Latest StatementTop Democrats on both election committees send a letter demanding the $39.6M reach EI-ISAC and CISA staff be rehired, with a response due September 9.
-
House Democrats warn of $200M held back
StatementHouse Homeland Security Committee Democrats flag nearly $200M in FY2026 counterterrorism funds withheld unless states change election laws.
-
FEMA releases grant notices with election conditions
PolicyFY2026 grant announcements include requirements states must meet to keep counterterrorism funding, drawing Democratic objections.
-
Congress directs $39.6M for election security
LegalThe FY2026 DHS Appropriations law directs restoration of EI-ISAC funding and election security advisors in every CISA region.
-
DHS ties election grants to voting rules
PolicyNPR reports roughly $28M in election security grants now carry conditions like using a citizenship verification tool for poll workers; Maine forgoes about $130,000 rather than comply.
-
Trump signs voting executive order
PolicyTrump directed federal grants to be tied to election-policy rules. Much of the order was later paused by courts.
-
Trump administration cuts election security funding
PolicyUnder DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the administration terminated federal funding for EI-ISAC and removed hundreds of CISA personnel.
Historical Context
2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1972–1974
Nixon's impoundment and the 1974 Impoundment Control Act
Richard Nixon refused to spend roughly $12–18 billion in congressionally appropriated funds he disagreed with, including water projects and social programs. Congress responded with the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, which requires the president to spend appropriated funds unless Congress approves a rescission.
Then
The law forced Nixon's successor Gerald Ford to release most impounded funds.
Now
It created the legal presumption that appropriated money must be spent, and modern disputes over withheld funds often turn on it.
Why this matters now
Padilla and Morelle's demand rests on that same principle — that DHS must spend the $39.6M Congress directed — making this a modern test of a 50-year-old law.
2016–2018
Russian election interference and the 2018 HAVA grants
Russia's 2016 hacking of state election systems and the Democratic National Committee email breach led the federal government to designate election infrastructure as critical infrastructure in January 2017. In March 2018, Congress appropriated $380 million in Help America Vote Act grants for states to harden their voting systems.
Then
States bought new voting machines and added post-election audits; EI-ISAC was created in 2018 as the information-sharing hub.
Now
It established the pattern of the federal government funding state election security through grants — the same kind of money now being withheld.
Why this matters now
The current dispute is about a similar pool of congressionally directed election security money, except this time the administration is refusing to spend it.
Sources
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