DHS: Domestic Extremists Pose 'Significant' Threat to Election Workers

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Facts

  • The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday released its 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment, in which the agency warned that domestic extremists would be the 'most significant physical threat to government officials, voters, and elections-related personnel and infrastructure.'[1]
  • DHS said it has monitored a rise in tactics such as 'hoax bomb threats, swatting, doxxing, and mailing white powder letters, intended to instill fear and disrupt campaign and election operations.'[2]
  • The report also cites four attacks from September 2023 to July 2024, which the DHS said were 'driven by various anti-government, racial, or gender-related motivations,' as well as two 'homegrown' attackers who were partially inspired by the war in Gaza.[3]
  • Besides physical threats, the DHS claims foreign actors may also be spreading misinformation regarding when and where people can vote.[2]
  • Outside the US, the DHS claims China, Russia, and Iran will seek to 'undermine confidence in US democratic institutions and domestic social cohesion,' and expressed particular concern about alleged Chinese attempts to 'pre-position on US networks for potential cyber attacks.'[4]
  • The DHS further warned that the upcoming anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel could add more fuel to an 'already challenging and heightened threat environment.' It also said the Department is 'extremely concerned' and 'monitoring' Iran.[1]

Sources: [1]ABC News, [2]CNN, [3]Straight Arrow News and [4]The Hill.

Narratives

  • Democratic narrative, as provided by New York Times and Washington Post. These reports are unsurprising because America's far right is creating some of the most incendiary rhetoric ever, including telling millions of Trump supporters that Democrats are trying to kill him. While the Biden administration wants to cool things down, the Trump camp continues to incite hatred against Democrats, immigrants, and the government.
  • Republican narrative, as provided by Townhall and Federalist. The Democrat-controlled DHS can't be trusted. It has given over $1B to illegal immigrants over the last two years, refused to give proper Secret Service protection to Trump, and worked with Big Tech to censor speech. The Biden administration is the biggest election threat, but it's projecting its crimes onto conservatives.
  • Cynical narrative, as provided by Cato. For decades, the executive branch has been given increased power, effectively turning it into an autocracy. In order to grow this power, the government exaggerates threats to scare the American voters. Both Democratic and Republican presidents are guilty of creating the unnecessary fear and anxiety felt every four years.