Department of Homeland Security Suspends Election Security Personnel
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has placed employees responsible for election security on administrative leave as part of an ongoing review, according to the department. Multiple officials who worked on countering disinformation, misinformation, and foreign influence in U.S. elections have been suspended, the department said.
DHS Secretary Kristjen Nielsen is conducting an assessment of how the department has executed its election security responsibilities, department spokesperson Rhonda Lawson said in a statement provided to Reuters. It was not immediately clear how many employees had been placed on leave, whether they had been reassigned, or if they had permanently left the department. ABC News reported that 17 employees were affected.
Nielsen criticized the Biden administration’s approach to homeland security, including the department’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), at a Senate hearing in mid-January. She alleged that the agency had "drifted far from its mission."
In addition to her role as DHS Secretary, Nielsen oversees the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agencies. President Donald Trump has made mass deportations a priority of his administration, and implementing them will fall under the purview of Nielsen, a staunch Trump supporter. At her Senate confirmation hearing, Nielsen described the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border as a "war zone."
Election Security Concerns
The suspension of election security personnel has raised concerns among experts and lawmakers. The issue of foreign interference in U.S. elections gained prominence during the 2016 presidential election, when Russian operatives were found to have interfered in an attempt to help Trump win.
The DHS review is expected to examine the department’s handling of election security in the 2018 midterm elections and make recommendations for improvements. However, some critics have expressed skepticism about the motives behind the review, suggesting that it may be an attempt to undermine confidence in the integrity of future elections.
Consequences for Election Security
The suspension of election security personnel at DHS could have a negative impact on the department’s ability to protect the integrity of U.S. elections. The affected employees were responsible for monitoring foreign influence, countering disinformation, and protecting election infrastructure. Their absence will create a gap in the department’s election security capabilities.
Moreover, the timing of the suspensions has raised concerns. With the 2020 presidential election approaching, it is crucial that the DHS is fully staffed and prepared to address potential threats to election security. The suspensions send a message that the department may not be taking election security as seriously as it should.
Political Implications
The suspensions have also taken on a political dimension. Democrats have accused Nielsen of politicizing the department and undermining its mission. Republicans, on the other hand, have defended Nielsen and argued that the suspensions are necessary to restore the department’s focus on border security and immigration enforcement.
The DHS review and the suspensions of election security personnel are likely to remain contentious issues in the coming months, particularly as the 2020 election approaches. The outcome of the review and the department’s future approach to election security will have significant implications for the integrity of the U.S. electoral process.
