As the 2024 U.S. election approaches, the FBI has significantly enhanced its efforts to protect the democratic process, establishing a National Election Command Post (NECP) at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. This 24/7 operation will coordinate the efforts of 80 personnel and 55 field offices nationwide to monitor and respond to a wide range of threats, including cyberattacks, foreign influence operations, and domestic extremism.
Key Areas of Focus:
- Cybersecurity Threats: As election systems become more digital, the FBI is focused on defending against cyberattacks that could target voter databases, voting machines, and election infrastructure.
- Foreign Interference: Building on lessons from previous elections, the FBI is actively investigating attempts by foreign actors—particularly Russia, China, and Iran—to disrupt or manipulate the election through hacking, disinformation, and influence operations.
- Domestic Extremism: Following the January 6 Capitol riot and rising violence associated with election-related disputes, the FBI is also preparing for potential acts of domestic terrorism or violence aimed at election workers, voters, and election infrastructure.
- Threats to Election Workers: After a surge in threats to election officials in the aftermath of the 2020 election, the FBI is focused on protecting election workers, ensuring they can operate without fear of harassment or violence.
Expanded Coordination for Enhanced Election Security
The FBI’s expanded efforts in 2024 reflect a broader, multi-agency approach that includes collaboration with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), state and local election officials, and tech companies to combat the growing threats to election security. As Barnacle noted, the command post has been launched earlier and features a more robust structure compared to past elections.
References:
- FBI Press Release on Election Security – FBI’s official announcement of the National Election Command Post and details on its expanded role in 2024.
- CISA Election Security Updates – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s resources on protecting election infrastructure.
- “Russian Interference in U.S. Elections” – U.S. Intelligence Community’s assessment of Russian actions in 2016 and the ongoing threat to future elections.
- FBI’s Domestic Terrorism and Extremism Investigations – FBI’s increasing focus on domestic violence and extremist threats in the wake of the January 6 Capitol attack.
- 2020 Election Threats – FBI’s role in addressing disinformation, securing election infrastructure, and protecting election workers in 2020.
By significantly ramping up its election security measures in 2024, the FBI aims to safeguard the election process against evolving threats, ensuring that all Americans can vote in a free and fair environment.
