Investigation Finds Trump Team Ousted 75 Election Officials, Installed Figures Tied to 2020 Reversal Efforts

Overview

• A ProPublica investigation reports the administration forced out at least 75 career officials who worked to protect elections and installed roughly two dozen replacements in roles that can shape voting.
• The shake-up reduced institutional checks, including cuts to Justice Department units that vetted politically sensitive cases and the dismantling of election security work at CISA, the DHS agency that helps states defend voting systems.
• At least ten new appointees previously worked to reverse the 2020 result, and several others have ties to groups central to the election denial movement.
• Some replacements have already pursued aggressive steps, including searches of voter rolls for noncitizens and involvement tied to an FBI raid in Georgia for 2020 election materials.
• The White House and spokespeople for the DOJ and DHS say the moves safeguard elections and reject claims of partisan interference, as experts warn the shift could strain safeguards ahead of the 2026 midterms.