DHS Internal Review of Domestic Extremism Reveals Flaws in Oversight, Training
Matt McClain | The Washington Post
In a year-long inquiry, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified five employees who engaged in domestic extremism, according to an internal report. The cross-Departmental working group of senior officials who conducted the comprehensive review issued 15 recommendations, including establishing baseline policies and guidance, improving methods to recognize and respond to violent extremist activity, fostering an integrated approach, and protecting employee privacy.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas launched the investigation in the wake of the insurrection attempt on the US Capitol Building; with increased domestic security threats, officials found no standard definition for extremism or a way to track incidents internally. There is no centralized system for recording incidents of extremism within the department's ranks, nor does the department's insider threat program prepare its staff for encountering extremist elements within its ranks. According to the probe, an under-resourced insider threat program and other critical flaws leave the department vulnerable to insider threats.
“To ensure we are able to continue executing our critical mission with honor and integrity, we will not tolerate hateful acts or violent extremist activity within our department,” Secretary Mayorkas stated, “The findings of this internal review highlight key steps that our department will continue to take with urgency to better prevent, detect, and respond to potential internal threats related to domestic violent extremism, and protect the integrity of our mission.”
The department found 35 allegations of domestic extremism during the investigation, including racial, ethnic, animal, environmental, abortion, and anti-government extremism. Though, the Department only substantiated five of the claims, it is unclear how deciding officials defined extremism for the determinations. At present, DHS does not have a consistent definition of “domestic violent extremist” or descriptions of violent extremist activity. The report stressed the importance of centralized guidance for investigating allegations of violent extremist activity.
As part of its recommendations, the report encourages DHS to develop baseline policies and a list of related behaviors that will assist in identifying problematic individuals. In addition to training all employees with dedicated funding, leadership should communicate to the workforce the importance of reporting wrongdoing and refraining from certain activities.
The probe also suggested that DHS monitor social media and encourage employees to disclose any misconduct among their colleagues, but it maintained the department should safeguard whistleblowers' rights.
As part of a request made by President Biden in the omnibus bill, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will receive $74 million to expand its Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate workforce complaints "related to white supremacy" or "ideological and non-ideological beliefs." It is unclear if Secretary Mayorkas will request additional funds to institute something similar department wide.
In a press release on Friday, department officials revealed they have already begun to incorporate some of the recommendations into their policies and plan to implement more over time. The working group assembled to conduct the probe will continue to monitor implementation and encourage interagency collaboration.