Full Breakdown
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin Presses States to Join Federal Election-Security Program Ahead of 2026 Midterms
7/18/2026, 9:01:53 AM
Core Event
On Friday, July 17, 2026, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin addressed officials in the Indian Treaty Room of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, warning that states that do not cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) revamped SAVE (Secure and Verified Elections) program could face “fines, penalties or prison time.” Mullin framed the push as essential to “expose what took place and make sure it never happens again,” echoing President Donald Trump’s recent claims of widespread non-citizen voting.
Background & Context
President Trump has repeatedly asserted, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen and has sought to use federal authority to alter election administration. Earlier in his second term, the Trump administration expanded SAVE’s data-matching capabilities and pressed for the SAVE Act, legislation that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Legal challenges have stalled the act in the Senate and a federal judge recently blocked the overhauled SAVE program over privacy and wrongful-purge concerns.
Key Figures & Groups
- Markwayne Mullin – Secretary of Homeland Security, leading the federal push.
- Donald Trump – President, whose unfounded fraud narrative underpins the initiative.
- Gavin Newsom – Governor of California, defending his state’s election integrity.
- Cisco Aguilar – Nevada Secretary of State, affirming the cleanliness of his state’s voter rolls.
- David Becker – Executive Director, Center for Election Innovation and Research, a nonprofit monitoring election reforms.
- CISA – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the DHS component tasked with election-security guidance, currently operating without a Senate-confirmed director.
Data & Statistics
- The Trump administration alleges 250,000 non-citizen voters are registered in California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—a figure election officials say is “exceedingly rare.”
- Since April 2025, at least 25 states have used SAVE to audit voter rolls.
- Courts have reviewed 15 Department of Justice demands for state voter data; six of those judges were appointed by President Trump.
- The Trump administration cut $10 million from two DHS cybersecurity initiatives and placed more than a dozen election-focused staff on administrative leave.
Official Statements & Responses
Mullin asserted that “we absolutely can build confidence in the American people, but the states have to do their part.” He pledged aggressive monitoring of public voter lists, stating, “If you are an illegal or you are voting illegally, we will hunt you down, we will find you and we will prosecute you.” The secretary announced that CISA would issue an updated election-infrastructure plan within 30 days and would provide cyber-threat resources to states that join SAVE.
Governor Newsom responded on social media, declaring, “California has free, fair, and secure elections and we will fight for them.” Nevada Secretary of State Aguilar emphasized ongoing efforts to verify voter eligibility, noting, “We are constantly looking at the information to figure out how many registered voters in Nevada don’t have a Social Security number on file.”
Criticism & Opposition
Election experts describe Mullin’s threats as “empty” and note that 15 courts have ruled the federal government cannot legally compel states to surrender sensitive voter data. David Becker warned, “Every court to consider the DOJ’s demands … have confirmed that the federal government cannot legally demand access to states’ sensitive voter data,” adding, “What he’s suggesting is illegal.” The SAVE program’s recent injunction highlights privacy concerns and the risk of wrongful purges of eligible voters.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The claim of 250,000 non-citizen registrations relies on public data that experts say lacks the detail needed to verify citizenship status. California and Pennsylvania election officials said they would review the findings but noted that non-citizen voting is “exceedingly rare.” No independent audit has yet confirmed the Trump administration’s numbers, leaving a gap between federal assertions and state-level evidence.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We absolutely can build confidence in the American people, but the states have to do their part,” — Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security
- “If you are an illegal or you are voting illegally, we will hunt you down, we will find you and we will prosecute you,” — Markwayne Mullin
- “California has free, fair, and secure elections and we will fight for them,” — Gavin Newsom, Governor of California
- “Every court to consider the DOJ’s demands — 15 of them to date, six of those judges appointed by President Trump — have confirmed that the federal government cannot legally demand access to states’ sensitive voter data,” — David Becker, Executive Director, Center for Election Innovation and Research
- “We are constantly looking at the information to figure out how many registered voters in Nevada don’t have a Social Security number on file,” — Cisco Aguilar, Nevada Secretary of State
What’s Next
Secretary Mullin indicated that CISA will release an updated election-infrastructure plan within the next 30 days and that states participating in SAVE will receive additional cyber-threat resources. The federal government’s ability to enforce compliance remains uncertain pending further court rulings on the program’s legality.
