Heather Honey, a figure widely known for her controversial involvement in post-2020 election activities and making false election claims, has been officially listed in a senior role within the Department of Homeland Security. The organizational chart identified her as a deputy assistant secretary within the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans.
She emerged nationally through her work after the 2020 presidential election. Honey partook in controversial efforts that included working with the Republican-backed review of ballots in Maricopa County, Arizona. She was also involved with pro-Trump groups that pursued mass voter roll challenges and pushed for restrictive measures on election procedures.
The inclusion of Honey in a DHS election integrity role has sparked significant concern among observers. Critics argue that her track record of promoting disputed analyses undermines the credibility required for a federal official tasked with ensuring election security. DHS and Honey have not provided public clarifications about her duties.
Note that deputy assistant secretaries often handle sensitive tasks. These include coordination with the White House and access to classified intelligence. The role may involve direct interaction with state election authorities. This level of access requires impartiality and credibility. Observers note that both requirements are contested in the professional background of Honey.
The appointment could weaken trust between states and the Department of Homeland Security. Many states share critical data on voting systems, exposures, and cyber incidents with federal partners. If confidence diminishes, cooperation may erode, potentially affecting nationwide election infrastructure defense mechanisms established after 2016.
Several experts publicly expressed concern. David Becker of the Center for Election Innovation and Research and Larry Norden of the Brennan Center for Justice emphasized that Honey lacks direct election administration experience. They argued that the appointment risks turning DHS into an amplifier of conspiracy theories instead of a safeguard.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes described the appointment as deeply troubling. He warned that the involvement of an individual with a documented history of spreading misleading election-related claims could damage the credibility of DHS and its capacity to act as a neutral partner for state-level election officials across the nation.
The broader context includes ongoing reductions in federal election security infrastructure. DHS has reportedly reduced personnel at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. These developments could suggest that long-standing bipartisan programs created to shield elections from foreign interference are being systematically weakened.
Some of the activities of Honey before this appointment included work with conservative lawyer Cleta Mitchell and involvement with the Election Integrity Network. She is a close ally within circles dedicated to reshaping election laws. These groups have made efforts to tighten eligibility rules and withdraw states from bipartisan data-sharing partnerships.
These previous activities show a consistent pattern of promoting partisan initiatives under the label of election integrity. Reports highlighted that her analyses of voter data after the 2020 elections distorted key details. These interpretations fueled false narratives about election fraud, narratives that were repeatedly dismissed by courts and by independent verification.
Both DHS and the White House have provided no detailed explanation about the appointment despite mounting questions. The precise scope of her responsibilities remains unclear. Neither Honey nor her allies have responded to inquiries. The lack of transparency further fuels speculation about her intended role in federal election security policy.