Trump Administration Leverages Homeland Security Grants to Push Election Reforms

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) drafted grant guidelines that tie homeland-security funds to election reforms. States must phase out certain electronic voting systems, adopt hand-marked paper ballots, and run voter rolls through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database. Non-compliance could forfeit 20 % of allocations—tens of millions of dollars.

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The Constitution assigns ballot administration to states, while Congress may set election rules. Courts have limited presidential authority to impose election changes unilaterally, making the DHS requirements an expansion of federal power.

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President Donald Trump is driving the policy. DHS officials released the draft. Former Justice Department attorney David Becker, an election-official adviser, warned of court challenges. The rules would affect Delaware, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Los Angeles County and Clark County, Nevada. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger estimates compliance at $66 million.

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The 20 % penalty could withhold tens of millions from non-compliant states. Upgrading equipment is estimated at $2.7 billion. About 30 % of U.S. voters rely on ballot-marking devices or direct-recording systems, which the new rules would require to be replaced or supplemented with hand-marked paper ballots.

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A DHS spokesperson said, “No changes to grant requirements or funding distributions are official until they are formally announced and published through authorized agency channels.” The spokesperson added, “Any recipient of federal funding should expect accountability for how taxpayer dollars are spent.” It frames election security as a core national-security priority.

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David Becker warned, “I expect (the new requirements) will be blocked in the courts.” Critics say SAVE can produce false matches, risking disenfranchisement. Legal scholars note constitutional limits on presidential authority over state election administration and cite prior court blocks of funding threats.

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Sources cite the potential withholding as “tens of millions” without a precise figure. The grant guidelines permit states to request additional funding, but the application process and eligibility criteria remain unclear.

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• “No changes to grant requirements or funding distributions are official until they are formally announced and published through proper, authorized agency channels,” — DHS spokesperson

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• “Any recipient of federal funding should expect accountability for how taxpayer dollars are spent,” — DHS spokesperson

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• “I expect (the new requirements) will be blocked in the courts,” — David Becker, former Justice Department lawyer

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DHS will publish the final guidelines later this month. States must submit compliance plans, and several are expected to sue. Court rulings will decide if the grant conditions can be enforced and how they will shape future federal-state election cooperation.

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