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.
“Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made statements about her agency's role in elections”
Summary
Kristi Noem, as Secretary of Homeland Security, has made public statements regarding the Department of Homeland Security's involvement in election security. The Department of Homeland Security does have a designated role in election infrastructure security through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), though the specific accuracy of her statements depends on the context and claims made.
Primary Sources
Fact-checking analysis of statements made by Secretary Noem regarding DHS election responsibilities
Official government source describing CISA's role in protecting election infrastructure as critical infrastructure
Presidential directive establishing framework for critical infrastructure protection including election systems
2017 designation by DHS of election infrastructure as critical infrastructure subsector
Evidence Supporting the Claim
- The Department of Homeland Security, through CISA, has an officially designated role in election security as election infrastructure was designated as critical infrastructure in January 2017
- DHS provides cybersecurity assistance, threat information sharing, and incident response support to state and local election officials
- CISA offers voluntary security assessments, training, and resources to election officials nationwide
Evidence Against / Context
- DHS does not have operational control over elections, which are administered by state and local governments
- The federal role is limited to support and assistance; states retain primary authority over election administration and procedures
- The specific accuracy of Secretary Noem's statements depends on whether she accurately characterized DHS authority as supportive rather than directive
Timeline
DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson designated election infrastructure as a critical infrastructure subsector
Kristi Noem assumed office as Secretary of Homeland Security
Secretary Noem made public statements regarding DHS role in elections that were subject to fact-checking
What This Means
Structured interpretation — not opinion
Key takeaway 1
The Department of Homeland Security has a legitimate but limited role in election security, focused on cybersecurity support and infrastructure protection rather than election administration
Key takeaway 2
While DHS does have responsibilities related to elections, the extent and nature of federal involvement remains a matter of constitutional federalism, with states retaining primary control
Key takeaway 3
Public statements by federal officials about election roles require careful attention to whether they accurately distinguish between supportive technical assistance and operational authority over election processes
Related Claims in Elections
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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.