"We are strengthening our cultural competence and honoring our proud traditions of civil rights and civil liberties -- including religious freedom -- as we protect our homeland and our travelers," Sutherland wrote. "We work closely with various religious groups such as Sikh and Jewish organizations concerning the screening of people who wear religious head coverings or carry certain religious articles when they travel."

The DHS "Leadership Journal" averages more than 1,000 visitors a day, officials said. Recent posts have covered diverse topics like biometrics; the rollout of the standardized identification card program known as "Real ID;" and the government's response to an ice storm in the Midwest.