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DHS Social Media Hire Draws Scrutiny After NYT Flags Extremist-Adjacent Labor Dept. Posts

Internal warnings documented by the New York Times about extremist cues now shadow the 21-year-old’s move from the Labor Department to Homeland Security.

Overview

  • The New York Times reports that Peyton Rollins, 21, was brought to DHS this month to help run social media after overseeing a hard-edged makeover of the Labor Department’s accounts.
  • A DHS spokesperson did not confirm his move, but a staff directory listed Rollins, and he referenced a digital communications director role on his personal website.
  • Internal emails and Microsoft Teams messages obtained by the Times show coworkers expressing discomfort, citing engagement with right‑wing extremist accounts, and urging more moderate messaging.
  • Posts highlighted by employees included slogans such as “Restore American Greatness” and “the globalist status quo is OVER,” and a “Western Civilization” message whose imagery and styling drew Nazi‑related complaints.
  • The Labor Department’s following on X surged to roughly 650,000 under Rollins, as current and former staff said career communicators were pushed aside and that he personally posted much of the content.