The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently placed 17 employees on administrative leave, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to provide critical election security support. These staffers were responsible for working directly with state and local election officials to ensure the security of elections, focusing on threats such as cyberattacks, ransomware, and the physical safety of election workers. The employees were part of a broader initiative to strengthen the nation’s election security ahead of the 2024 election cycle.
Among those placed on leave are ten regional election security specialists who were hired to expand the agency’s field staff and provide direct support to election officials. These staff members were particularly involved in assisting states and local jurisdictions with election security assessments, training sessions, and raising awareness about the resources available to combat potential threats. Their role was crucial in fostering collaboration between CISA and the 50 states, along with the more than 8,000 local election jurisdictions.
The internal review that prompted the administrative leave will assess the agency’s efforts to counteract foreign government interference in U.S. elections. The employees who were placed on leave had been engaged in the effort to address potential attempts to influence the election process, a responsibility that has now been reassigned to other agency staff members. This review has caused significant disruption, as these former state and local election officials had built important relationships with election administrators across the country.
The timing of this development is concerning, as it threatens to undermine the efforts to secure U.S. elections just months before the 2024 election cycle. The absence of these experienced staffers could result in delays or gaps in providing the necessary support and resources to state and local election offices. With growing concerns about election security, especially regarding external interference, the temporary loss of this expertise may have serious implications for the preparedness of U.S. elections in the coming year.
