Washington, D.C. – In response to recent federal cuts to election security resources, Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark is leading the way in advocating for the restoration of vital election security programs. Clerk Clark successfully championed the passage of a resolution by the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors, calling on Congress and the Administration to reinstate funding and support for essential programs, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), and other key initiatives.
Challenges Facing Election Security
Recent federal budget reductions and programmatic changes have created significant challenges for local election officials, including:
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CISA Workforce Reductions: Over 130 CISA employees were laid off, disrupting key cybersecurity functions and leaving local election offices without support.
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Paused Election Security Operations: CISA has temporarily halted its election security activities, creating uncertainty for election officials nationwide.
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Disbanded DOJ Task Force: The Department of Justice has discontinued a task force dedicated to addressing foreign election interference.
These developments have left local election officials without the essential resources to ensure secure elections.
Clerk Clark’s Call to Action
Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark emphasized the urgency of restoring these critical programs:
“Local election officials are committed to ensuring elections remain free, fair, and secure. However, recent federal cuts have made this work more challenging. Election security is not optional. Congress must act quickly to reinstate funding for CISA, EAC, and DOJ programs so that we can continue protecting our democracy.”
Key Recommendations in the NACo Resolution
The resolution, led by Clerk Clark, urges Congress to take immediate action by:
- Fully funding CISA and EAC to provide essential resources, training, and technical support.
- Ensuring that nonpartisan federal assistance remains voluntary and free of unnecessary regulatory burdens.
- Reinstating DOJ programs to investigate election-related crimes and enforce election security laws.
- Rebuilding collaboration between federal agencies and local election officials to strengthen election security and accessibility.
For more information, please visit SantaFe.vote or contact Celeste Garcia, Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office Operations Manager, at (505) 986-6289 or ccgarcia@santafecountynm.gov.
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