News summary produced by Claude AI
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued warnings to state officials on Friday, stating they could face financial penalties or investigations if they decline to participate in the Trump administration’s election security initiatives. The remarks came one day after President Donald Trump delivered a primetime address on election matters and occurred months before midterm elections that will determine congressional control.
Multin advanced claims that the federal government identified approximately 250,000 noncitizen voters across California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He pledged aggressive federal monitoring of voter lists to pursue potential fraud cases and urged states to participate in the Department of Homeland Security’s SAVE program, a federal tool the administration has expanded since April 2025. Mullin stated that states failing to participate could face fines, penalties, or criminal charges. He also said the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency would release an updated election infrastructure plan within 30 days for participating states.
Experts disputed the credibility of these warnings. Election law specialists noted that federal courts, including judges appointed by Trump, have blocked the SAVE program over privacy concerns and the risk of wrongly removing eligible voters from rolls. David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, characterized Mullin’s threats as legally unenforceable, stating that 15 courts have confirmed the federal government cannot legally demand access to states’ sensitive voter data.
Election officials responded with skepticism. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, both Democrats, expressed confidence in their states’ election integrity and noted they conduct independent voter list maintenance. Election officials in California and Pennsylvania indicated they would review the administration’s findings but noted that noncitizen voting is exceedingly rare based on research. The Trump administration’s broader legislative efforts, including the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, have stalled in the Senate without sufficient Republican support to overcome procedural obstacles.
Critics also noted that the Trump administration has significantly scaled back federal election security assistance. The CISA agency, which historically provided cybersecurity support to states, has reduced its election security operation following an internal review that placed numerous election-focused staff members on administrative leave and cut $10 million from cybersecurity initiatives.