The Trump administration has tapped the Department of Government Efficiency to review states’ practices to maintain their voter databases, part of a new move by the White House to strictly enforce the ban on non-citizens voting in federal elections.   

The new White House memo authorized DOGE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to issue subpoenas, presumably to access the states’ maintenance systems.

Some Colorado officials are calling the memo an “unlawful” order that would “undermine” American democracy.

Foreign nationals, including permanent legal residents, are not allowed to vote in federal elections. The Trump administration argued that states have failed to adequately vet voters’ citizenship and the Biden administration “actively prevented states from removing aliens from their voter lists.”

In its memo on Tuesday, the Trump administration directed a federal election agency to ensure proof of American citizenship in the national mail voter registration form and for local officials to record the documentation presented. The memo also directed other agencies to help local officials identify unqualified voters by making accessible systems for verifying the citizenship or immigration status of individuals who already registered or seek to register vote.

“Above all, elections must be honest and worthy of the public trust,” the memo said. “That requires voting methods that produce a voter-verifiable paper record allowing voters to efficiently check their votes to protect against fraud or mistake. Election-integrity standards must be modified accordingly.”

In a statement, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, called the action “unlawful.” 

“It would prevent eligible Americans from exercising their sacred right to vote,” she said. “The Trump administration is weaponizing the federal government and trying to make it harder for voters to fight back at the ballot box. The United States has always led the world in conducting free and fair elections, and we cannot let Donald Trump end that legacy.”

Democratic Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul López echoed the sentiment.

“We will not be intimidated, coerced, or tolerate any attempt to strip away our voting rights,” he said in a statement. “In our state, we have a strong legacy and history of holding secure and accessible elections. As Denver’s Clerk, I will continue to ensure voters have access to the ballot box. I will not stand for this administration’s attempts to undermine and weaken American democracy, so help me God.”

This is a developing story.