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Former officials allege DHS sought CISA hack of voting machine

ProPublica reports CISA has lost more than 1,000 staff, and several states say it gave no midterm help.

Updated Oct 19, 2026 · 22:08 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Former administration officials allege DHS appointees sought a secret CISA hack of a voting machine for the White House.[ProPublica]
  • CISA has lost more than 1,000 staff, about one-third of its workforce, during Trump's second term.[ProPublica]
  • The 2027 budget proposal would cut $700 million more, potentially requiring 900 additional layoffs.[ProPublica]
  • Several state election authorities say CISA gave no help during midterm planning, and some fear the remaining agency is compromised.[ProPublica]

Key facts

  • Two former administration officials say DHS political appointees asked CISA to secretly acquire and hack a voting machine to give findings to the White House.[ProPublica]
  • During Trump's second term, the administration laid off or pushed out more than 1,000 CISA employees, shrinking the agency by about one-third.[ProPublica]
  • The president's 2027 budget proposal would cut CISA funding by another $700 million, which could necessitate 900 additional layoffs.[ProPublica]
  • Several state election authorities say CISA provided no assistance and no explanation for its absence during critical midterm planning stages.[ProPublica]
  • Officials in one large voting jurisdiction say they have met privately with machine vendors on a contingency plan in case the federal government seizes or declares their machines unusable.[ProPublica]
  • A White House spokesperson defended Trump's handling of election security, saying he has done more than any other president to ensure free and fair elections.[ProPublica]

What remains uncertain

  • The hack request is attributed to two former officials and is not independently confirmed by other reporting.[ProPublica]
  • Whether CISA has been compromised is a fear voiced by some state officials, not an established finding.[ProPublica]
  • The 2027 budget cut and the possible 900 layoffs are a proposal and have not been enacted.[ProPublica]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.