Legislation Introduced to Regulate DHS Communications Amid Concerns of Inflammatory Rhetoric

On June 12, 2026, Congressman Shri Thanedar introduced the DHS CANDOR Act, aimed at standardizing communications from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The legislation mandates the creation of a department-wide policy for public communications and requires annual training for DHS personnel on acceptable social media use. This initiative responds to concerns over misleading and inflammatory rhetoric from DHS, particularly under the leadership of Kristi Noem and Markwayne Mullin. Thanedar emphasized the need for oversight by the DHS Office of Inspector General to prevent the spread of misinformation. The bill seeks to enhance the accuracy and neutrality of DHS communications, addressing both personal and official accounts of employees. The proposed changes are framed as necessary to restore public trust in DHS communications.

Key Points: • The DHS CANDOR Act aims to standardize DHS communications and improve accuracy. • Annual training for DHS personnel on social media use is mandated by the new legislation. • The bill was introduced in response to concerns over inflammatory rhetoric from DHS leadership.