Freshness note: This analysis was last updated 26 days ago. Fast-moving policy claims can change quickly, so check for newer official updates before relying on this verdict.
“DHS Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's agency plays a role in elections”
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security has statutory responsibilities for election security infrastructure under federal law. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a component of DHS, was specifically established to coordinate protection of critical infrastructure including election systems designated as such in 2017.
Primary Sources
DHS official page outlining the department's election security responsibilities and coordination with state and local election officials
Federal legislation that elevated CISA within DHS and codified its responsibilities for critical infrastructure protection
January 2017 announcement by DHS Secretary Johnson designating election infrastructure as a subsector of critical infrastructure
CISA initiative describing election security services offered to state and local election officials
GAO report examining federal efforts to assist state and local governments in securing election infrastructure
Evidence Supporting the Claim
- In January 2017, DHS designated election infrastructure as a critical infrastructure subsector under federal law, establishing formal DHS responsibilities in this area
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, established within DHS in 2018, provides cybersecurity services and support to state and local election officials
- DHS and CISA coordinate with state and local election officials to share threat intelligence, conduct vulnerability assessments, and provide technical assistance for election systems
- Federal law assigns DHS responsibility for coordinating protection of critical infrastructure across 16 sectors, which includes election infrastructure since 2017
Evidence Against / Context
- DHS does not have authority over how states and localities conduct elections, which remains under state jurisdiction as established by the Constitution
- DHS participation in election security is voluntary and collaborative, requiring requests or cooperation from state and local election officials
- The primary responsibility for administering elections remains with state and local governments, not federal agencies
Timeline
DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson designated election infrastructure as a critical infrastructure subsector
Congress passed the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act, establishing CISA within DHS
Kristi Noem became Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
What This Means
Structured interpretation — not opinion
Key takeaway 1
DHS has a federally mandated role in election security specifically focused on protecting infrastructure and cybersecurity, though this does not give the agency authority over election administration or policy
Key takeaway 2
The agency's election security role involves voluntary coordination with state and local officials rather than federal control or oversight of election processes
Key takeaway 3
Election infrastructure designation as critical infrastructure places it in the same category as systems like power grids and water systems, focusing DHS involvement on protecting against cyber and physical threats
Key takeaway 4
State and local governments retain constitutional authority over election administration while DHS provides technical cybersecurity support and threat information sharing
Related Claims in Elections
“About 1 in 4 Republicans voted by mail in the 2024 election”
Exit polls and voter surveys from the 2024 general election indicate that approximately 24-26% of Republican voters cast ballots by mail. This represents a significant portion of GOP voters using mail voting despite political debates about the practice during and after the 2020 election.
“The United States is the only country in the world that allows mail-in ballots”
Multiple countries around the world allow some form of mail-in or postal voting. Examples include Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, and Switzerland, among others. The claim that the United States is the only country permitting mail-in ballots is contradicted by documented voting practices in numerous democracies.
“Trump-initiated mid-decade redistricting is driving the number of competitive House seats lower”
The number of competitive House seats has declined significantly, but this trend predates Trump and is not primarily driven by mid-decade redistricting. The 2020 redistricting cycle (which Trump did not initiate) and traditional decennial redistricting have contributed to fewer competitive districts, but the role of mid-decade redistricting has been limited compared to standard post-census redistricting.