Spyware Allegations Within DHS
On Thursday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed that DHS employees allegedly installed spyware on devices like cellphones and laptops designated for use by Trump administration officials. This software reportedly allowed for the recording of meetings and monitoring of internal communications.
Noem discussed these findings during the “PBD Podcast,” mentioning that technology experts, including Elon Musk and his team, assisted her in uncovering what she termed rogue surveillance software embedded in the devices used by political appointees. This revelation emerged after external technical specialists examined DHS hardware and identified suspicious software activities.
“I can’t believe what I’ve uncovered since joining this department. Just recently, we found a whole room on this campus functioning as a secret safe with files that were completely unknown to anyone. An employee stumbled upon it and started asking questions,” Noem explained. “When we entered, we found individuals working with secret documents on incredibly controversial subjects. Now that I’ve handed this over to the lawyers, we’re trying to get to the bottom of it.”
Both DHS and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have yet to respond to inquiries regarding this issue.
Noem also emphasized that Customs and Border Protection keeps extensive records and is now initiating reviews of these alongside information from national laboratories under its oversight.
“Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, keeps track of every traveler entering the country and all products that come in. They assess and collect customs duties, but during the coronavirus, they had detailed information on travelers. This includes interactions of scientists at laboratories in Wuhan. It was quite revealing,” Noem stated. “Elon and his team have been immensely helpful, especially in revealing that some employees in my department had loaded software onto my devices to monitor and record me.”
She mentioned that many political figures had similar surveillance software on their government-issued devices, and without outside intervention, this could have continued unnoticed.
“This has been done to some politicians, which led us to bring in specialists. If we hadn’t had tech experts sifting through our laptops and phones, we might not even have been aware of the situation. It’s essential to partner with tech companies and experts to assist us. Often, the government, particularly in this area, has been overlooked and lagging behind. I recall struggling for four months just to email a PowerPoint longer than six pages from the DHS server,” she added.
Noem criticized the department’s previous security measures, suggesting they are fundamentally flawed and that the issue extends beyond DHS itself.
“The outdated mindset concerning national security is harmful to our safety, perhaps even more than the so-called deep state. While I’ve always believed in the existence of a deep state, I never anticipated it would be this severe,” Noem concluded.
