Overview
- At an Arizona press event, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she aims to be proactive so that “the right people” vote and “the right leaders” are elected.
- Noem described elections as DHS “critical infrastructure” and asserted the agency can identify vulnerabilities and take mitigation measures at state and national levels.
- Analysts including the Brennan Center’s Wendy Weiser disputed her assertions as false, emphasizing that states administer elections and federal roles are limited.
- Noem endorsed the House-passed SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship for federal registration, as President Trump suggested he could order voter ID if Congress does not act.
- Her remarks drew sharp criticism from figures such as Sen. Chuck Schumer and David Axelrod, while a Wall Street Journal report on internal DHS turmoil heightened calls for oversight.