DHS Appoints Controversial Researcher to Election Integrity Role

President Donald Trump has appointed Pennsylvania activist Heather Honey to the newly created role of deputy assistant secretary for election integrity at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Honey, known for her conservative election research, has been criticized for producing faulty analyses of voter data that were cited by Trump in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, including false claims about vote counts in Pennsylvania. She also participated in the controversial 2021 Arizona Senate audit, which was widely regarded as flawed and biased, ultimately confirming Biden's win by an even larger margin than official results. This appointment reflects the Trump administration's broader agenda to overhaul election processes, including efforts to eliminate mail ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterms, despite lacking constitutional authority. Trump's Department of Justice has also sought complete state voter lists, raising concerns about voter privacy and the federal government's use of sensitive data. Honey's role and the administration's actions have drawn criticism for promoting election conspiracy theories and undermining trust in established voting procedures.