After crashing headfirst into a series of legal hurdles, President Donald Trump’s long-running effort to restrict voting access ahead of the 2026 midterm elections shifted gears this week.

The White House’s attempts to seize control over elections have suffered a series of courtroom drubbings in recent weeks as judges — including many of his own appointees — have consistently blocked them for violating federal laws or the U.S. Constitution.

So the Trump administration is adopting a new strategy, turning to intimidation and coercion after legal bullying has mostly failed.

Now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is threatening election officials with jail time over the possibility of a noncitizen voting, and sending federal agents to monitor polls in key Democratic strongholds. Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is trying to leverage an anti-terrorism grant program to force states to overhaul their election operations.