Politics
Democratic lawmakers press DHS to release $39.6 million in election security funding
Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Joseph Morelle urged Homeland Security officials to disburse congressionally approved funds ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The short version
- Two top congressional Democrats sent a letter demanding the Department of Homeland Security release more than $39.6 million allocated for election security.
- The withheld funding has reportedly forced key election infrastructure support services into a paid subscription model, impacting state and local administrators.
- DHS and CISA have not yet responded to the inquiries or publicly addressed the distribution timeline.
Key facts
- Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Joseph Morelle sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting CISA director Nick Anderson demanding the release of over $39.6 million in election security funds.[NPR]
- The disputed funds were approved by Congress in April as part of the fiscal year 2026 DHS Appropriations measure.[NPR]
- Following earlier funding reductions in March 2025, the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center shifted to a paid membership structure.[NPR]
- Padilla serves as the ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee, while Morelle is the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration.[NPR]
What remains uncertain
- Neither the Department of Homeland Security nor the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the letter or the status of the funds.[NPR]