Trump administration puts state election officials in legal peril | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"Following recent EAC firings and a DOJ warning regarding voter rolls, state election officials are taking new legal and operational precautions.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/trump-administration-eac-firings-doj-election-officials-threat\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"States are building their own election defense networks as federal support evaporates \"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Following recent EAC firings and a DOJ warning regarding voter rolls, state election officials are taking new legal and operational precautions.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/trump-administration-eac-firings-doj-election-officials-threat\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> 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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"25.374087591241\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"30.144329896907\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/trump-administration-eac-firings-doj-election-officials-threat\/\"> <span>Election Security<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Election officials are facing an impossible choice: follow federal directives they don\u2019t trust, or risk becoming targets of a criminal investigation. <\/p>\n<p>   <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-5.jpg 4000w, 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https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-5.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-5.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-5.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-5.jpg?resize=1012,675 1012w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-5.jpg?resize=1264,843 1264w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1012px) 100vw, 1012px\"><figcaption> A secure storage area is pictured as vote-by-mail ballots for the August 4 Washington state primary are processed at King County Elections in Renton, Washington on August 3, 2020. (Photo by Jason Redmond \/ AFP) (Photo by JASON REDMOND\/AFP via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"81.262884794776\"><body readability=\"165.54876660342\"><\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration\u2019s abrupt firing of Election Assistance Commission commissioners last week and a Department of Justice warning threatening states with criminal prosecution have created new legal peril for officials who run, administer and secure elections.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/tag\/election-assistance-commission\">EAC<\/a> is an obscure but important agency that oversees testing and standards for voting machines, including around <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/tag\/election-security\/\">security.<\/a> While federal certification is voluntary, states have until now relied upon their stamp of approval when purchasing voting machines. <\/p>\n<p>On July 10, Democratic Commissioners Ben Hovland and Thomas Hicks were fired by the White House, while reports indicate that a third Commissioner, Republican Christy McCormick, resigned. While Congress mandated the commission be bipartisan, the Supreme Court has recently given the President broad authority to fire executive branch officials at will.<\/p>\n<p>In an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/13\/nx-s1-5891002\/former-member-of-federal-election-assistance-commission-speaks-out-after-dismissal\">interview<\/a> with NPR, Hovland said he worried the firings would further erode trust that the commission was working in a bipartisan manner.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cAnd as you eliminate things \u2013 or if you get rid of commissioners, for example \u2013 or as you eliminate some of these other sort of safeguards or norms, it certainly strains the system,\u201d said Hovland. \u201cAnd it certainly also likely causes people to lose faith in our democracy and in the process and their confidence in our elections. And that\u2019s very concerning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A letter also <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/ahead-midterms-doj-warns-state-officials-potential-criminal\/story?id=134566080\">sent last week<\/a> to all 50 states by the DOJ said the department will investigate and prosecute any election official \u201cwho knowingly retains non-citizens on the state\u2019s voter registration list or facilitates noncitizens in receiving and casting ballots.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>CyberScoop spoke with several Secretaries of State who said that the number one threat facing elections in their state is not from a foreign country or AI but their own federal government. <\/p>\n<p>Tobias Read, the Democratic Secretary of State for Oregon, told CyberScoop that his office is focused on providing the state\u2019s 36 county clerks with the resources and support they need to carry out a smooth election. But he acknowledged that his office is \u201cplaying defense in a lot of ways [from] the intrusion from the federal government\u201d that continues to assert its authority over local elections.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the president were actually serious about election security, he would be sending more resources to local election officials and bolstering the system rather than cutting it,\u201d said Read.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This year, several counties in Oregon will offer voters access to a new <a href=\"https:\/\/multco.us\/info\/track-your-ballot\">ballot tracking system<\/a> that provides text or email updates when a voter\u2019s ballot is moving through mail and has been certified. Reed estimated at \u201cpennies per voter per election\u201d and called it a good option for cash-strapped counties to assure voters their ballots are secure and properly tracked.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Read said federal agencies like the <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/tag\/cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency-cisa\/\">Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency<\/a> \u2013 which once <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/physical-threats-top-election-concerns\/\">regularly deployed<\/a> cybersecurity and technical expertise to help states fix vulnerabilities and share threat intelligence \u2013 have largely gone quiet.<\/p>\n<p>Oregon ranks in the top ten states for voter participation and relies heavily on mail-in voting. However, state officials like Read lack confidence in the US Postal Service. Though a recent Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/supreme-court-rules-legal-mail-in-ballots-after-election-day\/\">decision<\/a> blocked an executive order giving the service control over mail-in ballot distribution, officials like Read are urging voters to take other measures to use drop boxes instead as a safer alternative to ensure their vote is counted.<\/p>\n<p>Adrian Fontes, Arizona\u2019s Secretary of State and a Democrat running for reelection, said his office is focused on primary elections and processing the mail ballots that have been arriving \u201cfor a while.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/arizona-secretary-of-state-website-hack-candidate-portal-criticizes-cisa\/\">Iranian hackers defaced Arizona\u2019s candidate bio portal<\/a> last year, Fontes moved to fill a widening gap: the Trump administration\u2019s withdrawal of federal foreign interference training and support. His office is now directly supporting local jurisdictions on election security while coordinating more closely with state law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and other states.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>But it\u2019s being done with a fraction of the resources and coordination that the federal government brought to bear under both the Biden and first Trump administrations. While Fontes said he maintains positive personal relationships within the Department of Homeland Security, his office does not have a formal relationship with CISA.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve hobbled together a loose and often informal network of information sharing \u2013 that doesn\u2019t violate any rules, it doesn\u2019t break any laws \u2013 but it is certainly not anywhere near as robust as it would be if we had a responsible federal agency that was interested in the security of American elections,\u201d said Fontes.<\/p>\n<p>He said even if CISA offered such services today, he wouldn\u2019t accept it, citing the lack of trust between states and the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey have proven through their actions that they don\u2019t want to be effective partners in protecting the American electorate and protecting American voters,\u201d said Fontes. \u201cBecause of that, the clear answer, the only sensible answer for someone like me, would be to say \u2018No, I don\u2019t want the help of people I cannot trust.\u2019 People who have demonstrably and explicitly threatened me and local election administrators of all political stripes with criminal prosecution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Secretaries of State in Colorado, Nevada, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and others have also called the DOJ letters an attempt at federal intimidation of election officials. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Others, like West Virginia Republican Secretary of State Kris Warner, have reiterated their refusal to hand over state voter data. On Monday, <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.wvsd.243091\/gov.uscourts.wvsd.243091.56.0.pdf\">a federal judge upheld<\/a> his right to do so. <\/p>\n<p>Warner <a href=\"https:\/\/wvpublic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/070926-WV-SOS-Letter-to-DOJ.pdf\">wrote<\/a> to the <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">DOJ<\/a> in response to say the state was \u201cavailable to discuss our existing voter registration list maintenance\u201d but \u201cWest Virginia law prohibits the disclosure of sensitive personally identifiable information contained in voter registration records.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s leading some states to take new precautions. <\/p>\n<p>Read said he was working with Oregon county officials to make sure \u201ccounty clerks have the number of their county counsel on speed dial\u201d and know how to distinguish between a legitimate and illegitimate federal warrant or subpoena.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, FBI raids of election offices around the country to <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/fulton-county-election-raid-expert-testimony-ryan-macias\/\">seize ballots<\/a> records related to the 2020 and 2024 elections have been a cause for Read\u2019s concern. By state law, Oregon and other states must keep copies of the ballot records and other election data they receive from counties for a certain time <a href=\"https:\/\/sos.oregon.gov\/archives\/records-management\/pages\/records-retention-schedule.aspx\">according to state law<\/a>, after which they must eventually archive or destroy them according to ballot retention schedules.<\/p>\n<p>Read emphasized that \u201cit\u2019s important to destroy those ballots at the appropriate time,\u201d The Trump administration has used the raids to further the impression of electoral fraud, despite the absence of credible evidence. <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cWe can see when people are not on top of that, then you expose yourself to other vulnerabilities like the federal government seizing those ballots in Maricopa County [Arizona] and Fulton County [Georgia] as well,\u201d said Read.<\/p>\n<p>A former CISA official estimated that on Election Day in 2024, more than 1,000 representatives from federal, state and local governments, election technology vendors and other election stakeholders sat together in a room to communicate and coordinate.<\/p>\n<p>Less than two years later, Read called his office\u2019s interactions with CISA \u201cminimal.\u201d He recalled that upon taking office as Secretary of State in Jan 2025, one of his first conversations was with one of CISA\u2019s regional advisors. A week later, those advisors were summarily fired by the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\" readability=\"2.9671641791045\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"13\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Derek B. Johnson\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Derek B. Johnson<\/h4>\n<p> Derek B. Johnson is a reporter at CyberScoop, where his beat includes cybersecurity, elections and the federal government. Prior to that, he has provided award-winning coverage of cybersecurity news across the public and private sectors for various publications since 2017. Derek has a bachelor\u2019s degree in print journalism from Hofstra University in New York and a master\u2019s degree in public policy from George Mason University in Virginia. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<div class=\"popular-stories__stories\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__cards\">\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \" readability=\"22.446555819477\">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/court-rules-save-database-illegal-orders-dismantling\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"506\" height=\"337\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-2.jpg?resize=506%2C337&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-md size-ratio-16-9-md wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg 4772w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> A voter casts a ballot in a drop box outside the Union Market Super Vote Center during early voting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. (Photo By Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\" readability=\"2.6411483253589\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/court-rules-save-database-illegal-orders-dismantling\/\"> Court rules SAVE database illegal, orders it dismantled <\/a> <\/h3>\n<p> A judge said the administration\u2019s database violates the Privacy Act, the Social Security Act and the Administrative Procedures Act. <\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/derek-johnson\/\"> Derek B. Johnson <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/usps-mail-in-ballot-restrictions-trump-order\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-3.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg 4772w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-6.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> A voter casts a ballot in a drop box outside the Union Market Super Vote Center during early voting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. (Photo By Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/usps-mail-in-ballot-restrictions-trump-order\/\"> USPS moving forward with mail-in ballot changes as courts weigh Trump\u2019s election order <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/derek-johnson\/\"> Derek B. Johnson <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<article class=\"post-item post-item--popular-stories-cards \">\n<figure class=\"post-item__thumbnail\"> <a class=\"post-item__thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/federal-voter-data-collection-doj-legal-memo\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"252\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-4.jpg?resize=252%2C168&ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-ratio-16-9-sm size-ratio-16-9-sm wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg 6323w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=1536,1025 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=1012,675 1012w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates-7.jpg?resize=1264,843 1264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 252px) 100vw, 252px\"> <\/a><figcaption class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks as FBI Director Kash Patel listens at a press conference at the Department of Justice on April 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. The officials took questions from the press and gave updates about the case against Cole Tomas Allen, the suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis\/Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<header class=\"post-item__meta\">\n<h3 class=\"post-item__title\"> <a class=\"post-item__title-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/federal-voter-data-collection-doj-legal-memo\/\"> DOJ releases legal rationale for nationwide voter data collection <\/a> <\/h3>\n<div class=\"post-item__byline\"> <span class=\"post-item__author\"> <span>By <\/span> <a class=\"post-item__author-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/author\/derek-johnson\/\"> Derek B. Johnson <\/a> <\/span> <\/div>\n<p> <\/header>\n<p> <\/article>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/trump-administration-eac-firings-doj-election-officials-threat\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump administration puts state election officials in legal peril |<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1684,1209,78,293,338,1555,2041,292,117,7063,290,1038,4462,7064],"tags":[1687,668,86,299,341,1560,2043,298,119,7065,296,1042,4466,7066],"class_list":["post-8824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arizona","category-cisa","category-cybersecurity","category-department-of-homeland-security-dhs","category-department-of-justice-doj","category-election","category-election-assistance-commission","category-election-security","category-government","category-oregon","category-trump-administration","category-voter-data","category-voter-fraud","category-west-virginia","tag-arizona","tag-cisa","tag-cybersecurity","tag-department-of-homeland-security-dhs","tag-department-of-justice-doj","tag-election","tag-election-assistance-commission","tag-election-security","tag-government","tag-oregon","tag-trump-administration","tag-voter-data","tag-voter-fraud","tag-west-virginia"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/arizona\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Arizona<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cisa\/\" rel=\"category tag\">CISA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/cybersecurity\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Cybersecurity<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/department-of-homeland-security-dhs\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Department of Homeland Security (DHS)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/department-of-justice-doj\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/election\/\" rel=\"category tag\">election<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/election-assistance-commission\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Election Assistance Commission<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/election-security\/\" rel=\"category tag\">election security<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/government\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Government<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/oregon\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Oregon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/trump-administration\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Trump administration<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/voter-data\/\" rel=\"category tag\">voter data<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/voter-fraud\/\" rel=\"category tag\">voter fraud<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/west-virginia\/\" rel=\"category tag\">west virginia<\/a>","tag_info":"west virginia","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8824\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":8824,"date":"2026-07-13T15:59:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T20:59:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=89793"},"modified":"2026-07-13T15:59:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T20:59:31","slug":"states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/07\/13\/states-are-building-their-own-election-defense-networks-as-federal-support-evaporates\/","title":{"rendered":"States are building their own election defense networks as federal support evaporates\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"