Minnesota Lawmakers Decry Federal Staff Changes At CISA, Warn Of Election Security Risks

Minnesota Lawmakers Decry Federal Staff Changes At CISA, Warn Of Election Security Risks

Minnesota's Inclusive Democracy Caucus has vocally criticized the Trump administration's recent decisions involving the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). According to reports by the Associated Press, 17 employees at CISA, including 10 regional election security specialists and other members of the agency's Election Security and Resilience team, have been placed on leave. This shakeup comes as CISA continues to ensure that it does not engage in censorship, focusing instead on alerting potential misinformation that could impact election security.

The reconfiguration of CISA's workforce, a unit under the Department of Homeland Security, is said to directly influence the ability to provide valuable cybersecurity support to states like Minnesota. Senator Liz Boldon of the Minnesota legislature expressed concerns, claiming, "In Minnesota, our Office of the Secretary of State relies on assistance from CISA for expanded cybersecurity, meaning this is an attack on the security of Minnesota’s elections." With CISA's role in securing elections, the staff being placed on leave has raised alarm bells among state officials, who have come to increasingly depend on federal guidance to safely administer and protect the voting process from various threats.

During confirmation hearings, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused CISA of straying from its mission, suggesting that the agency requires restraint. Critics, such as Senator Boldon and Representative Emma Greenman, argue that such a stance threatens the integrity of election security. "President Trump’s assault on our democracy continues and is now targeting our country’s election security and cybersecurity infrastructure," Greenman stated, according to a recent release from the Inclusive Democracy Caucus.

Members of the Minnesota legislature are now urging action against what they see as an active threat to democratic processes. In the words of Representative Cedrick Frazier, "We in the Minnesota legislature must be the last line of defense against this methodical destruction of our democratic safeguards." The local response indicates that such federal-level upheavals are not only politically charged but also pose real concerns over election integrity and, by extension, the fundamental rights of voters.

Joining the voices of the Caucus, several members from both the Senate and House Elections Committees, including Senator Jim Carlson, Representative Mike Frieberg, and several other DFL representatives, have cosigned a statement condemning the administration's actions. The group's united stance reflects a broader concern over the stability and reliability of American electoral infrastructure heading into future elections.

SOURCE: hoodline