Thousands of election-security workers cut during President Donald Trump’s second term, CBS reports

Thousands of federal workers assigned to election-security efforts have been cut since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to a CBS News report published July 16. CBS said the staffing reductions affected personnel tasked with helping ensure secure elections across the United States.

The CBS report described the cuts as part of broader workforce reductions affecting election-focused functions inside several agencies. It cited staff linked to election security roles in the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Justice Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

CBS said the reductions began early in the second administration and that the number of workers cut amounted to “thousands,” with the changes occurring over the course of the new presidential term rather than in a single discrete event. CBS framed the cuts as occurring amid ongoing federal responsibilities related to election administration and election integrity.

Election security functions in the federal government generally include supporting state and local election officials, monitoring and analyzing threats, and coordinating responses to incidents involving cyber intrusions or other forms of interference. The practical impact of staffing reductions, as CBS highlighted, is tied to the availability of personnel who carry out those tasks and coordinate with partners.

CBS reported that the cuts were concentrated among roles that are commonly associated with election security and related enforcement. The report did not, in the material provided for this drafting task, specify the exact number of position eliminations by agency, nor did it provide a comprehensive breakdown of which categories of roles were affected.

The report comes at a time when election security remains a central federal policy issue, with Congress having established multiple mechanisms and authorities for federal agencies to respond to cyber threats and coordinate with election systems operators. Staffing levels can affect how quickly agencies can investigate incidents and coordinate with other levels of government.

CBS’s reporting means the personnel changes are likely to be scrutinized through oversight channels and potentially through questions about whether the reductions alter timelines, response capacity, or coordination practices tied to election-security missions. Agencies may also face follow-up requests for staffing justifications, internal reassignments, or details about how election security work is covered after the cuts.

As agencies implement workforce changes, the immediate next step for election-security stakeholders typically involves monitoring continuity of operations and ensuring that state and local election officials still receive technical support and threat information. Whether staffing reductions change service levels is expected to be a key part of any subsequent administrative or oversight review.