DOJ Reportedly Scales Back Election Integrity Operations Ahead of 2026 Midterms
The Department of Justice has not established its traditional 24-hour 'command center' at FBI headquarters to handle Election Day complaints and emergencies, according to reporting from NOTUS, despite the 2026 midterms being five months away. The center has historically been staffed by public corruption prosecutors and investigators to coordinate responses to election irregularities and crimes. Current and former DOJ personnel have expressed concern about this decision alongside reports of canceled election integrity training and the unfilled position of Election Crimes Branch head.
The Trump administration's Department of Justice has reportedly foregone establishing its customary election integrity command center ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections, according to NOTUS reporting cited by The Independent. The center, typically a 24-hour operation at FBI headquarters, has historically coordinated responses to Election Day emergencies and complaints from local officials and the public. Beyond the absent command center, insiders have raised concerns about canceled election integrity training sessions for prosecutors and FBI agents, the removal of a 281-page election prosecution guide from the DOJ website, and the unfilled position of Election Crimes Branch head following Rob Heberle's February 2025 resignation. The DOJ has defended its approach, stating it has appointed District Election Officers in each U.S. Attorney's Office and will rely on field prosecutors and agents to handle complaints in coordination with headquarters, asserting that election integrity remains a top priority. Former public corruption prosecutor Ryan Crosswell expressed concern that the decision undermines election protection efforts, while the article also notes concerns raised about potential ICE deployment to polling stations, though Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated such deployment would only occur in response to specific threats.
What's missing
The article does not provide historical context on how frequently or consistently the DOJ has established this command center in previous election cycles, making it difficult to assess whether this represents a significant departure from standard practice or reflects evolving operational procedures.
What different sources said
- The IndependentLeft
DOJ quietly scraps ‘command center’ that would help monitor 2026 election integrity, report says
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