Trump administration threatens states with funding cuts and criminal prosecution over non‑citizen voting

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division sent identical letters to election officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia warning that any official who knowingly allows non‑citizens to vote or remains on voter rolls could face criminal charges. The letters, signed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, gave officials five days to explain how they would comply with federal election‑law requirements.

At the same time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that 20% of its anti‑terrorism grant program – more than $1 billion annually – will be withheld unless states adopt election‑security measures such as hand‑marked paper ballots, citizenship verification of voters and workers, and post‑election audits. The grant conditions tie national security funding to changes that the Trump administration says will protect elections, but critics argue they threaten election integrity and are being used to pressure states ahead of the 2026 midterms. Several state officials, both Democratic and Republican, have publicly rejected the threats, and courts have previously blocked similar attempts to dictate state election rules.