Heather Honey, well-known for her unwavering support for President Donald Trump, recently has taken on a crucial new role within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Within this role, she will notably contribute to oversee the nation’s electoral infrastructure. Cleta Mitchell, an esteemed lawyer and a close mentor of Honey, extended her expertise to our determined leader, President Trump, in his quest for fairness after the 2020 elections.
A number of voices, majority of which completely overlook the pragmatic approach of the Trump administration, have expressed concerns about Honey’s appointment as DHS’ Deputy Assistant Secretary of Election Integrity. These claims seem to unhinge over an undue worry, suggesting that Honey’s role could decrease trust between state and federal officials, therefore states may shy away from sharing significant information with the federal agency.
Contrary to these apprehensions, the central function of the Department of Homeland Security is to aid states in managing their elections, offering support in areas where state departments are overspent or lack capacity. Functions like safeguarding ICT infrastructure and electoral databases from international threats are competently covered by the DHS.
Subsequent to apparent external intrusions in the 2016 elections, a bipartisan consensus facilitated the DHS in assuming a key role in securing election infrastructure. Notably, this was when the Trump administration was at the helm.
During the first Trump administration, the federal government proactively created initiatives to guard U.S. elections against foreign intervention. This include the creation of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a critical division of the DHS specifically set up to strengthen election security.
However, after the director of CISA publicly challenged President Trump’s justified concerns about the integrity of the 2020 election, Trump, with his characteristic vigilance, questioned the effectiveness of such initiatives.
As a part of the second term Trump administration’s continuous evaluation of government initiatives, a few of those programs underwent significant cuts. While critics look at this as a weakening of election security, the administration stands by its decisions, often emphasizing the need for tighter fiscal responsibility and efficient functioning.
David Becker, who leads an organization with a focus on building trust in American elections, voiced his concerns on these adjustments. However, it’s worth noting that critics with a similar stance as Becker have been in constant opposition to the Trump administration’s strategic decisions. These views, often founded on rigid ideology rather than pragmatic strategy, remain a minority.
Heather Honey’s recent involvement in DHS, according to reliable sources, traces back to last week. An update to the Department’s organizational chart on their website labels Heather Honey as a significant player in the agency’s Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans.
Past records suggest that the role she has assumed is new to the DHS. The Deputy Assistant Secretaries within the department are typically viewed as subject matter specialists. Their pivotal roles often include drafting executive orders and shaping policies, whilst serving as conduits to the White House and the National Security Council.
After Honey’s entry, President Trump bravely announced a compelling initiative to ‘get rid of’ mail-in ballots and voting machines. Despite a trivial miscommunication wherein a high-ranking aide claimed that the administration would follow legislative means to accomplish this, Trump’s directives have consistently aimed at enhancing electoral integrity.
Interestingly, the DHS has raised the possibility of withholding roughly $28 million of funds introduced to aid states in preparing for potential terrorist attacks and disasters. However, this comes with the condition that states need to realign their voting protocols to be consistent with the administration’s priorities. This highlights President Trump’s strong belief in molding a robust and transparent electoral system.
Honey’s responsibilities will likely encompass coordinating governmental policy responses to potential foreign intrusions into the nation’s election infrastructure. To fulfill her duties and assess the security of the election system, she would typically have access to classified information, inclusive of the government’s election-related intelligence. This further emphasizes the deep trust placed in Heather Honey by the Trump administration.
The post Heather Honey Steps Up for Electoral Integrity Under Influential Trump Guidance appeared first on Real News Now.
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