In a controversial and politically charged move, the Department of Justice under former President Donald Trump is once again pushing the issue of noncitizen voting to the forefront, using a newly created office known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, as a key tool in the effort. The initiative is part of a broader campaign to combat alleged voter fraud, but critics warn it risks voter suppression and undermines confidence in the electoral process.
The DOGE office was quietly established late last year with a broad mandate to identify and eliminate what the Trump-aligned DOJ describes as “inefficiencies and vulnerabilities” in federal and state systems—including those related to elections. While DOGE’s stated mission appears bureaucratic, its recent focus has been sharply political: investigating claims of noncitizen voting, particularly in districts with high immigrant populations.
Speaking to NPR, DOJ officials claim that the office has uncovered hundreds of “irregularities” in voter rolls, including what they allege to be improperly registered noncitizens. These findings have been shared with state election boards, and investigations are ongoing in several jurisdictions, including Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania—all key swing states in recent elections.
“We have a duty to ensure the integrity of our elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Bethany Crane. “DOGE is helping us shine a light on areas where state systems have failed to maintain accurate records. This is not about politics—it’s about preserving trust in our democracy.”
However, civil rights groups and voting rights advocates are pushing back, accusing the DOJ of resurrecting debunked claims of widespread noncitizen voting. They point to studies showing that voter fraud in the United States is vanishingly rare, and that the focus on noncitizens is being used as a pretext to target minority voters and justify restrictive voting laws.
“DOGE is nothing more than a political hit squad dressed up as a government watchdog,” said Maya Wiley, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “This is about intimidation, plain and simple. It’s voter suppression under a new brand.”
The controversy recalls similar efforts during Trump’s first term, when his administration created a short-lived voter fraud commission that disbanded without finding evidence of widespread misconduct. Many experts believe the renewed focus is designed to energize Trump’s political base ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and pave the way for tougher voting laws at the state level.
Election officials in some states have already expressed concern. “We’re worried this will be used to cast doubt on valid votes and discourage participation,” said Georgia Secretary of State Linh Vu. “Our systems already have robust safeguards against fraud. This seems more about optics than outcomes.”
DOGE’s creation and rapid deployment have also drawn scrutiny from within the federal bureaucracy. Former DOJ official Andrew Weissmann called the office’s activities “legally dubious,” noting that its operations are being conducted with little transparency or oversight. “This is a DOJ offshoot doing what Congress hasn’t approved or reviewed,” he said. “That’s dangerous territory.”
In response to criticism, DOJ spokespeople have insisted that all DOGE investigations are conducted in accordance with federal law and that any referrals to local prosecutors are based on verified evidence. Still, critics remain unconvinced.
Political observers note that the timing of this initiative is no coincidence. Trump has made election integrity a central theme of his ongoing campaign speeches, often citing anecdotal or unverified claims of noncitizen voting to rally supporters. Analysts say the DOGE office allows him to add a layer of official credibility to those assertions—even as they remain hotly disputed.
As the 2026 election cycle heats up, the impact of DOGE’s investigations will likely intensify debates around voting rights, immigration, and the future of American democracy. For now, the Department of Government Efficiency has become yet another flashpoint in the nation’s ongoing battle over the ballot box.
Source: NPR
