DHS Hires Former Labor Dept Employee Accused of Promoting White Nationalist Messaging

Peyton Rollins' social media posts at the Labor Dept raised internal alarms over possible extremist rhetoric

Feb. 11, 2026 at 6:07am

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), led by Secretary Kristi Noem, has hired 21-year-old Peyton Rollins - a former U.S. Labor Department employee - to manage its social media accounts. However, Rollins' previous work at the Labor Department has come under scrutiny, with current and former employees alleging that he used the department's social media to promote content reminiscent of white supremacist and far-right messaging.

Why it matters

The hiring of Rollins at DHS raises concerns about the potential for extremist rhetoric and conspiracy theories to be amplified through government social media channels, which could undermine public trust in federal institutions. This case highlights the challenges agencies face in balancing social media outreach with the need to maintain impartial, fact-based messaging.

The details

According to a New York Times report, Rollins spent much of the past year revamping the Labor Department's social media presence in a way that "raised internal alarms over possible white-nationalist messaging." The posts allegedly included evocative imagery and phrases like "Restore American Greatness" and "the globalist status quo is OVER." Current and former employees said career staff were pushed aside after Rollins took control of the department's social media, and they warned superiors that the posts could be seen as promoting white supremacist rhetoric, Nazi imagery, and QAnon conspiracy theories.

  • Rollins was hired by the DHS in early February 2026.
  • Rollins previously worked at the U.S. Labor Department for about a year before his hiring at DHS.

The players

Kristi Noem

The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Peyton Rollins

A 21-year-old former U.S. Labor Department employee who was hired by the DHS to manage its social media accounts. Rollins' previous work at the Labor Department has come under scrutiny for allegedly promoting white nationalist and far-right messaging through the department's social media channels.

Egan Reich

A former 15-year employee of the U.S. Labor Department who left the agency in April 2025. Reich described Rollins' social media posts as "incredibly chilling and disappointing" and said they diminished the work of his former colleagues.

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What they’re saying

“It's incredibly chilling and disappointing, and I do feel it diminishes the work my colleagues and I did over the years to educate people about the government.”

— Egan Reich, Former Labor Department employee

What’s next

The DHS has not yet commented on the concerns raised about Rollins' past social media activity at the Labor Department. It remains to be seen whether the department will review his hiring or take any disciplinary action.

The takeaway

This case highlights the risks of government agencies allowing partisan or extremist rhetoric to seep into their official social media channels, which can undermine public trust and the credibility of federal institutions. It underscores the need for rigorous vetting of social media hires and strong policies to ensure impartial, fact-based messaging from government accounts.