Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been in the spotlight this week for her strong push on election security and animal welfare initiatives. On February 13, PolitiFact reports that Noem spoke at a press conference in Phoenix, Arizona, defending her department's role in protecting elections while lobbying for the SAVE America Act, which requires photo identification to vote and proof of citizenship for voter registration. She stated that as Secretary, she oversees vulnerabilities in election systems and promotes mitigation measures for states and localities to ensure votes are counted accurately. Noem emphasized building secure infrastructure so only eligible American citizens vote, responding to criticism on X after CNN's Jake Tapper questioned her phrase about the right people voting. Experts like Wendy Weiser from the Brennan Center for Justice clarified that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within Homeland Security offers voluntary assistance on threats but does not run or oversee elections, which remain a state responsibility.
Shifting to animal protection, on February 18, the US Department of Agriculture announced a coordinated crackdown on chronic dog welfare violators, with Noem joining Secretary Brooke Rollins, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior. The effort targets unlicensed breeders, dog fighting, and import evaders through stricter enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, license revocations, and interagency partnerships. Customs and Border Protection under DHS will help block unhealthy dog imports. USDA highlighted recent actions like revoking six breeder licenses and referring cases to the Justice Department.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Congressman Glenn Ivey and Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks sent a letter to Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons demanding details on a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility lease in Hyattsville, Maryland. Lawmakers cited community concerns over its location near a church and family services office, requesting cost, consultation with locals, and constitutional safeguards by February 27.
These moves underscore Noem's active role in securing elections, borders, and even pet welfare amid ongoing debates.
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