US Federal Spending Bill Includes $380 Million for Securing Election Systems

Congress has included $380 million for election cybersecurity in its new omnibus spending package, marking the legislative branch's first official move toward improving security of the voting and election systems in the wake of concerns over Russian meddling in the 2016 race, Reuters reports.

The funding would include election technology grants for states to better lock down their election systems, according to report in The Hill. The bill also is expected to include additional funding for the FBI - $307 million - in its efforts to battle Russian nation-state cyberattackers.

Also in the package is $26 million for the US Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity unit for its programs helping states lock down their election systems.

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