Press release on Volume I:
Plain Language Version of the Press Release on Volume I:
The Senate Intelligence Committee has released a report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. The report found that Russia targeted U.S. election infrastructure, including state election systems, with the goal of disrupting the election. The report also found that the U.S. government was aware of Russia’s efforts to interfere in the election, but did not take adequate steps to prevent it.
Here are some of the key findings from the report:
- Russia targeted U.S. election infrastructure, including state election systems, with the goal of disrupting the election.
- The U.S. government was aware of Russia’s efforts to interfere in the election, but did not take adequate steps to prevent it.
- There is no evidence that Russia changed the outcome of the election.
- The U.S. government needs to do more to improve election security in order to prevent future interference.
The report is a sobering reminder of the threat posed by foreign interference in U.S. elections. It is important for all Americans to be aware of this threat and to take steps to protect their vote.
Here are some of the recommendations from the report:
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) should work with state election officials to improve election security.
- States should purchase more secure voting machines.
- Congress should evaluate the results of the $380 million in state election security grants allocated in 2018.
- The United States should communicate to adversaries that it will view an attack on its election infrastructure as a hostile act and respond accordingly.
The report is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand the threat posed by foreign interference in U.S. elections. It is important for all Americans to be aware of this threat and to take steps to protect their vote.
Quotes:
“In 2016, the U.S. was unprepared at all levels of government for a concerted attack from a determined foreign adversary on our election infrastructure. Since then, we have learned much more about the nature of Russia’s cyber activities and better understand the real and urgent threat they pose. The Department of Homeland Security and state and local elections officials have dramatically changed how they approach election security, working together to bridge gaps in information sharing and shore up vulnerabilities. The progress they’ve made over the last three years is a testament to what we can accomplish when we give people the opportunity to be part of a solution.
“There is still much work that remains to be done, however. I am grateful to the many states that provided their points of view, which helped inform our recommendations. It is my hope that the Senate Intelligence Committee’s bipartisan report will provide the American people with valuable insight into the election security threats still facing our nation and the ways we can address them.”
Chairman Burr
“When the Russians attacked elections systems in 2016, neither the federal government nor the states were adequately prepared. Our bipartisan investigation identified multiple problems and information gaps that hindered our ability to effectively respond and defend against the Russian attack in 2016. Since then – and in large part as a result of the bipartisan work done on this issue in our Committee – the intelligence community, DHS, the FBI, and the states have taken steps to ensure that our elections are far more secure today than they were in 2016. But there’s still much more we can and must do to protect our elections. I hope the bipartisan findings and recommendations outlined in this report will underscore to the White House and all of our colleagues, regardless of political party, that this threat remains urgent, and we have a responsibility to defend our democracy against it.”
Vice Chairman Warner
See also: 2018 press release on an earlier release of the report
Writing by Dr. Dannielle Blumenthal 