States wary of Trump election efforts as officials warn mistrust could weaken defenses against foreign interference

Federal officials are raising concerns that growing mistrust between state election administrators and Washington could weaken the nation’s ability to defend upcoming elections from foreign interference.

According to CNN, routine outreach from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal agencies to state election officials has sparked unease, coming just days after agents executed a search warrant at an elections office in Fulton County, Georgia. That action, along with recent rhetoric from Donald Trump about election control, has deepened skepticism among state and local officials.

The FBI email invited election leaders to discuss security support ahead of the midterms, a practice that became standard after Russia’s 2016 election interference. But this year’s outreach landed amid heightened tensions, including efforts by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to examine voting machines and renewed claims from Trump that the 2020 election was stolen.

Some election officials say trust has eroded significantly. One Republican administrator told CNN that the Fulton County search raised alarm nationwide, adding that any breakdown in coordination between states and federal agencies could create openings for foreign actors seeking to influence US elections.

The situation is compounded by cuts to federal election security programs during Trump’s second administration, including the closure of offices dedicated to countering foreign influence. Current and former officials told CNN they fear the federal government’s commitment to combating election interference has weakened just as the midterms approach.

While agencies like the Department of Homeland Security continue offering assistance, some local leaders now view federal officials less as partners and more as potential adversaries. Former Arizona election official Stephen Richer warned that this shift in perception could undermine cooperation that once helped safeguard voting systems.

Federal election commissioners maintain that the outreach is meant to reestablish lines of communication and prepare for the coming election cycle. But experts say rebuilding trust will be critical to ensuring states and Washington can work together to protect democracy from outside threats.

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