Rollback of Efforts to Counter Foreign Influence in U.S. Elections

SOURCE www.npr.org
The Trump administration is rolling back efforts to counter foreign influence in U.S. elections by putting key personnel on administrative leave and disbanding task forces. This move has raised concerns among election security experts about leaving the country vulnerable to interference from Russia, China, and Iran.

Key Points

  • Rollback of efforts to counter foreign influence in U.S. elections by the Trump administration
  • Key personnel at CISA and other agencies put on administrative leave
  • Disbandment of task forces combating foreign influence campaigns
  • Concerns raised by election security experts about increased vulnerability to interference

Pros

  • Efforts to counter foreign influence in U.S. elections were initially put in place after revelations about Russia's interference in the 2016 election.
  • CISA and other agencies were actively working to combat mis- and disinformation as well as foreign influence campaigns.
  • Experts have expressed concerns about the potential consequences of dismantling these efforts, leaving the U.S. vulnerable to interference.

Cons

  • Key personnel at CISA and other agencies have been put on administrative leave, disrupting ongoing work on election security.
  • Task forces, such as the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, have been disbanded, reducing the capacity to combat foreign influence campaigns.
  • The disbandment of these efforts may leave the U.S. more susceptible to interference from countries like Russia, China, and Iran.