Homeland Security chief warns states of funding cuts over election security compliance
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin told state officials they could face funding losses or investigations if they do not follow the Trump administration’s election-security directives, a warning issued days after President Trump’s televised remarks.
Washington — Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin warned state officials on Friday that failure to comply with the administration’s election-security demands could result in loss of federal funding or investigations. The remarks came a day after President Donald Trump’s primetime address on the same topic and ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
“We absolutely can build confidence in the American people, but the states have to do their part,” Mullin said.
Mullin cited a claim that 250,000 non-citizen voters were found on voter rolls in four states, saying the Department of Homeland Security’s analysis used publicly available data. Election officials in California and Pennsylvania said they would review the findings but noted that non-citizen voting is extremely rare and that their own list-maintenance processes already address such issues.
California Governor Gavin Newsom responded on social media, asserting the state’s elections are “free, fair, and secure.” Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said the state continuously reviews voter data to ensure accuracy.
Mullin also urged states to join the Department’s SAVE program, a voter-list verification tool expanded under the Trump administration. He warned that non-participation could lead to fines, penalties, or even criminal prosecution.
“If you are an illegal or you are voting illegally, we will hunt you down, we will find you and we will prosecute you,” he said.
Legal experts noted that courts have repeatedly ruled the federal government cannot compel states to hand over sensitive voter data, describing Mullin’s threats as legally unfounded. The SAVE program’s recent use was blocked by a federal judge over privacy concerns and allegations of wrongful voter purges.
Mullin announced that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency would issue an updated election-infrastructure plan within 30 days and provide cyber-threat resources to states that participate in SAVE. Critics pointed out that the agency’s election-security operations have been reduced under the Trump administration, including staff cuts and the absence of a Senate-confirmed director.
“The fact that they think they’re going to come in prior to the general election in November and provide us infrastructure, that’s nuts,” Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said.
The administration’s broader effort to pass the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration, remains stalled in the Senate.