Trump administration to brief senators on election security

Officials from President Donald Trump's administration will brief senators on election security on Wednesday amid bipartisan agreement that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, according to a senior Senate aide.

Wednesday's briefing, requested by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), will be open to all senators and is expected to include officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, the aide said.

In his calls for a briefing in June, Schumer said such information is "necessary but not nearly sufficient" and expressed hope that "it reignites a desire on both sides of the aisle to move legislation, increase funding, and do what's necessary to protect our democracy."

Calls for election security legislation have met with skepticism from Senate Republican leadership. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has noted that there was an "absence of problems in the 2018 election" and views further federal legislation as unnecessary.

Nevertheless, Democrats have made several attempts in recent months to bring attention to election security as the 2020 election approaches. Last month, Schumer called for McConnell to hold votes on attaching election security amendments to a must-pass defense bill.

Democrats have also attempted to offer up election security legislation by voice vote and have called for more money to be allocated to election security in budget negotiations.