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- The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has placed several election security team members on administrative leave.
- The move affects 17 employees, including 10 regional election security specialists hired to enhance election security ahead of the 2024 election.
- This decision comes amid criticism from Republican officials and uncertainty about CISA’s future leadership.
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Essential Context
CISA, formed in 2018, is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, including voting systems. Recent actions have led to the placement of 17 employees, who worked on election security and counteracting cyber threats, on administrative leave.
Core Players
- CISA – U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – Parent agency of CISA
- Kristi Noem – New Homeland Security Secretary under President Trump
- Jen Easterly – Former CISA director who departed on January 20, 2025
Key Numbers
- 17 – Number of CISA employees placed on administrative leave
- 10 – Number of regional election security specialists affected
- 2018 – Year CISA was established
- $3 billion – CISA’s annual budget
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The Catalyst
The decision to place election security personnel on leave follows criticisms from Republican officials, including new Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who suggested CISA had strayed from its mission.
Inside Forces
CISA employees had been working closely with state and local election officials to enhance cybersecurity, counter ransomware threats, and improve physical security measures.
The affected employees, many of whom are former state or local election officials, were integral in building relationships and providing guidance across all 50 states and over 8,000 local election jurisdictions.
Power Dynamics
President Trump has not yet named a replacement for former CISA director Jen Easterly, who departed on January 20, 2025. This leadership vacuum adds to the uncertainty surrounding CISA’s future.
Republican officials, such as Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, have defended CISA’s role in election security, highlighting the valuable support provided to local election officials.
Outside Impact
The removal of these employees could significantly impact smaller election jurisdictions that lack the resources to effectively combat misinformation and cyber threats.
Kim Wyman, former Republican Secretary of State for Washington and former election security lead at CISA, warned that this move will create a void in support for these jurisdictions.
Future Forces
The long-term implications include potential vulnerabilities in election security ahead of future elections. CISA’s role in helping states and localities identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities will be critical to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
As the 2024 election highlighted, cyber threats and misinformation campaigns remain significant concerns, with Cloudflare blocking over 6 billion HTTP DDoS requests targeting U.S. election-related websites in the days leading up to the election.
Data Points
- January 20, 2025: Former CISA director Jen Easterly departed the agency.
- February 2025: CISA employees were placed on administrative leave.
- 6 billion+ – Number of HTTP DDoS requests blocked by Cloudflare in the days leading up to the 2024 election.
- $2 million – Approximate amount spent by CISA on disinformation work.
- 2016 – Year the election sector was declared critical infrastructure.
The placement of election security personnel on leave underscores the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding election security in the United States. As the country moves forward, ensuring the integrity and security of the electoral process will remain a top priority.
