The Three Decisions That Reshaped the Department of Homeland Security — and Still Define Its Future

Twenty-five years after 9/11, the department created to prevent another catastrophic attack faces a different threat landscape, persistent organizational strain and a renewed debate over whether its sprawling post-9/11 design still fits the nation it was built to protect.

Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 attacks transformed American life, the Department of Homeland Security stands as one of the most consequential institutions created in their aftermath — and one of the most debated.

Congress established DHS through the Homeland Security Act of 2002, eventually bringing together all or parts of 22 federal agencies and offices. The undertaking represented one of the largest restructurings of the federal government since the creation of the Defense Department. DHS formally began operations in 2003 with a broad mandate encompassing counterterrorism, border security, emergency management, aviation security, infrastructure protection and other missions.

The reorganization grew from an urgent and understandable objective: prevent another mass-casualty terrorist attack on American soil.

A quarter-century later, however, the threats facing the United States have changed dramatically. Foreign terrorist organizations remain a concern, but policymakers must also contend with cyberattacks, infrastructure vulnerabilities, politically motivated violence, emerging technologies, transnational crime and increasingly contentious debates over immigration enforcement.

At the same time, DHS has become a focal point in disputes over the proper limits of federal power.

That tension raises a larger institutional question: Was the department designed for the security challenges America actually developed — or primarily for the ones Washington feared immediately after 9/11?

The answer begins with three choices made during the department's creation.

'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' FactChecking Day Two of the GOP Midterm Convention

Vice President JD Vance gave the keynote address on the second night of the Republican midterm convention, which also featured Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., House Speaker Mike Johnson and a final send-off from President Donald Trump. Here’s what we found in fact-checking their remarks:

• Several Republicans credited the Trump administration for a large drop in the violent crime rate in 2025 and a historically low murder rate. But the recent statistics continue a trend of declining crime in recent years, and criminologists say there are many possible reasons for the drop.
• Kennedy falsely claimed Democrats “closed every church in our country for a year” during the pandemic. Restrictions on religious gatherings were implemented by both parties and typically capped attendance, rather than prohibiting services altogether. Many of those restrictions ended or were made less strict within months.
• Trump vowed to end no cash bail, misleadingly saying that under the policy, “Somebody kills somebody and they’re out in the streets two hours later.” In states that have cashless bail policies, that almost never happens.
• Vance made the dubious claim that U.S. citizens account for all of the job growth during the current administration. Experts told us last year that the specific federal employment data supporting that claim are misleading.
• Johnson inaccurately claimed that Republicans inherited “record high” inflation from the Biden administration. They didn’t. The annualized inflation rate had declined to 3% when Trump entered office — a lower rate than it is now.
• Trump falsely claimed, “I built almost 2,000 miles of [border] wall.” The actual number is about a third of that, and only if including replacement wall rather than new wall in places where there was none before.
• Kennedy made the unsupported claim that Democrats “lost 360,000 children,” who he suggested went on to be trafficked. He’s distorting the findings of a 2024 report from the Department of Homeland Security inspector general.
• Kennedy misrepresented the available data to suggest that the Trump administration deserves credit for reversing decades of rising obesity rates and declining lifespans. Obesity was already falling before Trump took office, according to one survey, and life expectancy has generally been trending upwards for decades, with the exception of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Kennedy falsely said that U.S. has the “sickest children in the history of the world.” Given that long ago it was common for as many as half of all children to die, this is not remotely true. Most countries today also have higher childhood mortality rates than the U.S.

The convention, the first for the Republican Party during the midterms, was held Sept. 9 and 10 in Dallas. For more on the convention, see our story on Trump’s keynote speech on the first night.

No. 12 Alabama erupts in second half, rolls past Kentucky 45-17 in SEC opener

Crimson Tide scores 32 unanswered points after halftime as Daniel Hill tops 100 rushing yards and Alabama's defense overwhelms Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. | No. 12 Alabama turned a halftime deficit into a second-half rout Saturday, scoring 32 unanswered points and shutting down Kentucky over the final two quarters to claim a 45-17 victory at Kroger Field in the Crimson Tide's Southeastern Conference opener.

Alabama (2-0, 1-0 SEC) trailed 17-13 at halftime before taking control on both sides of the ball. The Crimson Tide held Kentucky (1-1, 0-1) scoreless after the break, limiting the Wildcats to just 62 yards and three first downs in the second half.

The turnaround was emphatic.

Alabama scored on five second-half possessions and capitalized on Kentucky mistakes, including a fumble and failed fake punt, to turn a four-point halftime deficit into a 28-point victory.

The Crimson Tide finished with 343 yards of total offense, 215 of them coming after halftime, while holding Kentucky to 209 yards for the game.

Troy Powers Past Alabama State 34-17, Opens Season 2-0 for First Time Since 2013

Jaheim Merriweather rushes for 127 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans pile up 427 yards of offense and hold the Hornets to their lowest output during a 15-game scoring streak.

TROY, Ala. | Troy waited 13 years to open a football season with consecutive victories. Jaheim Merriweather made sure the wait ended Saturday.

Merriweather rushed for a career-high three touchdowns, including an explosive 69-yard score, and Troy rolled up 427 yards of total offense in a 34-17 victory over in-state opponent Alabama State at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Trojans improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2013, powered by 226 rushing yards and a defense that limited an Alabama State offense averaging at least 30 points over its previous 15 games to just 17.

Merriweather was the centerpiece of Troy's ground attack, rushing for 127 yards on 28 carries. T.K. Keyes delivered through the air with five receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Goose Crowder completed another turnover-free performance with 201 passing yards.

Troy's defense was equally disruptive, holding Alabama State to 221 total yards and 105 through the air.

Still, head coach Gerad Parker saw plenty to correct.

“We didn't turn the football over — which was a positive, but we didn't play clean at all and played with poor discipline,” Parker said. “We ran the football well enough to get out of the game with a win.”

No. 23 Missouri Pulls Away From Kansas 38-21, Extends Border War Winning Streak to Five

Austin Simmons throws for 292 yards and three touchdowns, Robert Woodyard forces two pivotal turnovers and Jamal Roberts rushes for 125 yards as Mizzou wins in Lawrence for the first time since 2001.

LAWRENCE, Kan. | Twenty-one years after Missouri last walked into Lawrence to face Kansas, the Tigers returned to enemy territory and made sure the Border War trophy went home with them.

No. 23 Missouri broke open a halftime tie with a turnover-fueled third quarter and defeated Kansas 38-21 Saturday in the 122nd renewal of the StorageMart Border Showdown at a sold-out David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Quarterback Austin Simmons threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns, Jamal Roberts rushed for 125 yards and linebacker Robert Woodyard produced takeaways on consecutive Kansas possessions as Missouri turned a sluggish opening half into a convincing rivalry victory.

The Tigers improved to 2-0 and extended their winning streak against Kansas to five games, matching the longest streak by either program in the century-plus rivalry. Missouri has won six of the past seven meetings and leads the all-time series 59-54-9.

For Mizzou, however, this victory carried another historical distinction: It was the Tigers' first win in Lawrence since a 38-34 victory in 2001, Gary Pinkel's first season as Missouri's head coach.

Ben Shelton Beats Frances Tiafoe, Reaches First Grand Slam Final at 2026 US Open

Shelton rallies past Tiafoe in four sets to become the first Black American man to reach the US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972; top-seeded Alexander Zverev awaits Sunday.

NEW YORK | Ben Shelton has spent the 2026 US Open knocking down barriers, surviving late nights and proving that American men’s tennis may finally have another player ready to end a Grand Slam drought that has lasted more than two decades.

Now he is one victory away.

Shelton defeated fellow American Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, advancing to the first Grand Slam final of his career and setting up a Sunday championship showdown against top-seeded Alexander Zverev.

The No. 8 seed became the first Black American man to reach the US Open singles final since Arthur Ashe in 1972 — an achievement made all the more poignant inside the stadium bearing Ashe’s name.

For Shelton, however, history is not the finish line.

The 23-year-old is chasing something American men’s tennis has waited 23 years to celebrate: a Grand Slam singles champion.

Andy Roddick remains the last American man to win a major, capturing the 2003 US Open. Shelton can end that drought Sunday.

And after what he has already accomplished in New York, he will arrive at the final believing he can.

Alabama Soccer Blanks Auburn 1-0, Extends Iron Bowl of Soccer Run to Seven Straight Seasons

Kennedy Garcia scores her first SEC goal and first career game-winner, while Madi Munguia makes five saves as the Crimson Tide opens conference play with a road shutout.

🎵Spend My Dollar…🎵#RollTide pic.twitter.com/8Q8ZSxerTM

— Alabama Soccer (@AlabamaSoccer) September 12, 2026

AUBURN, Ala. | Alabama soccer opened Southeastern Conference play by extending its hold on one of the program’s most important rivalry trophies.

Kennedy Garcia scored in the 33rd minute and goalkeeper Madi Munguia made five saves as Alabama shut out previously unbeaten Auburn 1-0 Friday night, sending the Iron Bowl of Soccer trophy back to Tuscaloosa for a seventh consecutive season.

Alabama improved to 8-1 overall and opened SEC competition with a victory, while Auburn fell to 4-1-3 with its first loss of the season.

The Crimson Tide is now 6-0-1 over its past seven Iron Bowl contests against Auburn, a stretch that includes three road victories and four shutouts.

For Alabama coach Wes Hart, the victory offered another example of a team capable of finding a path to a result even when it does not control every phase of the match.

“What I’ve said about our team all along is that we find ways to win,” Hart said. “I don’t think it was a great start to the game. Auburn probably had a little more control than us in the first half although we got the goal.”

By the final whistle, that one goal was all Alabama needed.

Auburn Volleyball Sweeps UIC as Belle Patrick, Anastasija Ivkovic Power Tigers in Chicago

Patrick delivers 16 kills, Ivkovic records a career-high seven blocks and Auburn dominates the second set to secure a straight-set road victory.

CHICAGO | Auburn volleyball needed resilience to survive a tense opening set against UIC. Once the Tigers escaped it, they took control.

Auburn opened its Chicago road swing Friday night with a straight-set victory over UIC, combining a balanced offensive attack with dominant play at the net to build momentum heading into the DePaul Invitational.

Belle Patrick led Auburn with 16 kills while hitting .406, and junior outside hitter Anastasija Ivkovic delivered a career performance with seven blocks to go along with eight kills.

Auburn also received eight kills and six blocks from middle blocker Havlicek as the Tigers turned an early battle into a three-set sweep.

“I’m happy to start the weekend with a win and continue the momentum on the road,” Auburn coach Brent Crouch said. “I would’ve liked to see a more consistent effort throughout the match, but I am happy with the way we responded in the second set.”

That response proved decisive.

UC San Diego Falls to New Mexico State in Five-Set Thriller Despite Dominant Blocking Performance

Molly McCluskey delivers 22 kills and a double-double, Gia Rivera posts a career-high 20 kills and Kaliya Ndiaye records 10 blocks as the Tritons suffer their third consecutive five-set loss.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. | For the third consecutive match, UC San Diego women’s volleyball pushed its opponent to a decisive fifth set. And for the third straight time, the Tritons came agonizingly close without getting the result they wanted.

New Mexico State rallied past UC San Diego 24-26, 25-20, 20-25, 25-23, 15-11 Friday night at the Pan American Center, handing the Tritons another narrow five-set defeat despite a commanding advantage at the net.

UC San Diego fell to 2-5 overall, while New Mexico State improved to 5-4.

The Tritons outblocked the Aggies 14-5 and hit .244 for the match, but New Mexico State produced a 68-64 advantage in kills and seized control of the fifth set with a decisive five-point run.

The final result continued an unusual and frustrating stretch for UC San Diego. The Tritons have played three consecutive five-set matches and lost all three — despite being outscored by just one combined point across those contests.

Manya Saini Earns Sun Belt Women’s Golfer of the Week Honors After Career-Best Finish

Troy standout opens the season with a 1-under performance at the Golfweek Fall Challenge, firing a 5-under 66 and leading the field with 12 birdies.

TROY, Ala. | Manya Saini wasted little time making an impact in Troy’s new women’s golf season.

The fourth-year Trojan was named the season’s first Sun Belt Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week after shooting 1-under and recording a career-best fourth-place finish at the Golfweek Fall Challenge, the league announced Friday.

Saini’s season-opening performance was highlighted by a blistering 5-under 66 in the first round and a tournament-leading 12 birdies. The Ahmedabad, India, native entered the 54th and final hole tied for the individual lead before ultimately finishing fourth.

For Saini, the showing continued a strong stretch of golf dating to last season and provided Troy with an early individual highlight as the Trojans begin their fall schedule.