government
Exclusive: Trump administration uses homeland security funds to force states into election changes
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· June 22, 2026
· 1 min read
By Gabe Cohen, Tierney Sneed, CNN
(CNN) — The Trump administration is threatening to withhold tens of millions of dollars in federal homeland security funds from states unless they adopt a sweeping set of election changes, according to multiple sources and internal documents obtained by CNN.
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Key takeaway By Gabe Cohen, Tierney Sneed, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration is threatening to withhold tens of millions of dollars in federal homeland security funds from states unless they adopt a sweeping set of election changes, according to multiple sources and internal documents obtained by CNN.
Why this matters in The El Paso
El Paso County's election security efforts could be directly impacted by the Trump administration's new rules governing homeland security grant programs. The county, like others in Texas, relies on these grants to help prevent terrorism, protect infrastructure, and prepare for major disasters. With the new guidelines imposing mandatory reforms, including phasing out certain electronic voting systems and using a controversial citizenship verification database, El Paso County may face a difficult decision: comply with the federal rules or risk losing millions of dollars in security funds. This could strain local resources, potentially compromising the county's ability to respond to emergencies and protect its residents. As the new guidelines are set to be released later this month, El Paso officials will need to carefully consider their next steps, weighing the potential consequences of compliance or noncompliance on the county's election security and overall public safety.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 1 min
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What is this story about? By Gabe Cohen, Tierney Sneed, CNN
(CNN) — The Trump administration is threatening to withhold tens of millions of dollars in federal homeland security funds from states unless they adopt a sweeping set of election changes, according to multiple sources and internal documents obtained by CNN.
...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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