The possibility of the Trump administration intervening in its own country’s midterm elections has prompted a private advisory effort involving approximately 10 current and former US national-security officials, who are helping state governments prepare for potential federal actions that could disrupt voting or challenge election results.
The group has consulted governors, election administrators, and congressional lawmakers connected to 10 states over several months, according to a The Washington Post investigation.
The advisers include people with Defense Department backgrounds, some of whom previously worked on countering authoritarian threats overseas. Several remain federal employees, although the consultations are being conducted privately rather than as official government assignments.
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Their concerns center on how President Donald Trump could use federal authority to influence the November 3 elections, including possible military deployments, immigration enforcement near polling locations, or attempts to invalidate unfavorable results through allegations of voter fraud.
Those scenarios remain hypothetical. Two participants interviewed by the Post said their warnings were based on public statements and their own assessments, rather than classified intelligence identifying an administration plan.
The consultations expose a potential conflict between state election authority and federal executive power. While states administer congressional elections under federal constitutional and statutory rules, the advisers are examining ways the Trump administration could use federal agencies or legal proceedings to disrupt that process.
Their work with state governments has focused on strengthening election procedures. With congressional lawmakers, particularly Republicans, discussions have emphasized recognizing potential interference and preparing to oppose it publicly if necessary.
The concerns follow documented federal actions involving election administration. In January, FBI agents seized election records from Fulton County, Georgia, as part of an investigation connected to Trump’s disputed allegations about the 2020 election.
More recently, the Justice Department threatened California election officials with possible prosecution over ballots allegedly issued to noncitizens. California authorities have challenged the administration’s claims.
White House spokesperson Lauren Bis dismissed the advisers’ concerns, maintaining that the administration is working to strengthen election security, prevent fraud, and prosecute election crimes.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in August that the military had no plans to deploy troops to polling sites or seize voting records. Homeland Security officials have similarly denied plans to target polling locations with immigration operations.
A Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos survey published Tuesday found that approximately 70% of Americans lacked confidence that Trump would accept Republican losses, including 36% of Republicans.
