ODNI Appoints Two Officials to Lead Intelligence Coordination on 2026 Election Threats

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has appointed Dave Mastro and James Cangialosi to coordinate intelligence community efforts against threats to the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. This announcement resolves months of uncertainty regarding leadership for election security under the current administration. Mastro, from the National Intelligence Council, and Cangialosi, deputy director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, will lead an expansive team focused on election integrity, aligning with directives from President Donald Trump and DNI Tulsi Gabbard. The move follows a reorganization that shifted responsibilities from the Foreign Malign Influence Center due to constitutional concerns over social media coordination. These appointments occur amidst heightened scrutiny of Gabbard’s role in election security and significant workforce reductions at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Critics note that the annual worldwide threats assessment omitted foreign election threats for the first time in nearly a decade, while Democrats and state officials express concern over diminished federal support. The officials will oversee analysis of cyberattacks, foreign influence operations, and disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining public trust in the electoral process.