Columbia Standard

U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin and Senator Alex Padilla are leading an initiative with 29 other Democratic Senators to urge Attorney General Pam Bondi to maintain the Department of Justice's Election Threats Task Force. This task force is vital for protecting election officials from increasing threats and violence.

The request follows significant reductions by the Trump Administration in federal efforts to counter foreign and domestic election security threats. On her first day, Attorney General Bondi disbanded the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, which had been addressing influence campaigns by foreign adversaries like China and Russia. The administration has also dismissed or suspended numerous officials at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) responsible for combating foreign election interference, reportedly halting CISA's ongoing election security work and defunding its nationwide program for training local officials.

The Senators expressed their concerns in a letter: “Given the recent disturbing personnel and policy decisions at the Department and the lack of transparency about the future of the Task Force, we request an immediate update on the status and activities of the Task Force, as well as what resources will be provided to ensure its important work continues so that election officials of both parties can safely administer our elections.”

They highlighted alarming statistics: “Recent surveys have found that one in three election officials reported facing threats, harassment, and abuse. Similarly, 48 percent of local election officials know of someone who has left their job because of fear for their safety—a troubling loss of institutional knowledge needed for the smooth running of elections."

The letter was signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar, Chuck Schumer, Angela Alsobrooks, Michael Bennet, Richard Blumenthal, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Cory Booker, Maria Cantwell, Chris Coons, Ruben Gallego, Mazie Hirono, Mark Kelly, Andy Kim, Angus King, Ben Ray Luján, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Jon Ossoff, Bernie Sanders, Brian Schatz, Adam Schiff, Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Van Hollen, Mark Warner, Raphael Warnock, Elizabeth Warren, Peter Welch, Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden.

Durbin has been vocal about ensuring election security prior to the 2024 elections. He urged various agencies including the FBI to prioritize this issue by securing resources against potential threats such as cyberattacks and physical violence against workers.

In previous legislative sessions with Senator Amy Klobuchar he reintroduced legislation aimed at protecting election workers through the Election Worker Protection Act. This act aims to provide states with resources for recruiting and training while instituting federal safeguards against intimidation.