The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “erroneously” told a watchdog group that it no longer retains text messages required by law, saying the “misunderstanding” stemmed from the department ending its use of a system that automatically preserved messages.
American Oversight said the admission raises questions about whether officials are following their obligation to manually save their messages and that they have yet to receive the public records it requested.
The disclosure came in a public records lawsuit brought by the group to obtain text messages sent by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during immigration raids in Los Angeles.
The DHS initially told the group that “text message data generated after April 9, 2025, is no longer maintained” and that the agency “no longer has the capability to conduct a search of text messages.”
But a sworn declaration made by DHS’s chief data officer said the initial statement wasn’t true.
DHS, the official said, has stopped using a program that automatically preserved text messages, and employees instead must now “manually archive their messages.”
“Although the TeleMessage software reduced the burden on these officials to manually archive messages, and made it easier for the Department to respond to FOIA and discovery requests for these messages, DHS disabled TeleMessage in April 2025 due to cybersecurity failures,” the official wrote.
Court documents also show the National Archives asked the DHS to investigate the potential destruction of records and report back by Nov. 3. However, by Oct. 30, a National Archives official said they had not yet received a response from the DHS.
“DHS has now admitted that it provided inaccurate information about whether Secretary Noem’s and other top agency officials’ text messages were properly preserved. We’re talking about messages exchanged amid major national controversies — from the deployment of military forces on American streets to inhumane immigration crackdowns,” Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, said in a statement.
“After misleading us for months, DHS wants us to trust that the law is being followed. But the agency has not turned over the records we requested nor has it provided details about whether senior officials’ text messages have been preserved in accordance with the law. It’s time for transparency — not more empty assurances.”
The DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The investigation from the National Archives came after a request from Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee who said the episode raised questions about whether the DHS violated the law by failing to notify of the destruction of public records.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
THE HILL 400 N CAPITOL STREET NW, SUITE 650 WASHINGTON DC 20002
© 1998 – 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.
Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
By clicking “Sign Up” you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use, which includes a jury trial waiver and class action waiver, and that you have read our Privacy Policy detailing our collection, use and sharing of your personal information.
By clicking “Sign Up” you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use, which includes a jury trial waiver and class action waiver, and that you have read our Privacy Policy detailing our collection, use and sharing of your personal information.
The Hill is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
The Hill is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is a leading, diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. The My Nexstar sign-in works across the Nexstar network—including The CW, NewsNation, The Hill, and more. Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

source