The Time I Found !important 146 Times on State.gov — and Why It Matters

The internet is full of mysteries, but what I stumbled upon while browsing State.gov left me stunned. As an Australian and British citizen, I’ve always admired the transparency of democratic systems, particularly in the United States. So, imagine my shock when I found 146 instances of !important in their CSS—a cardinal sin in web development—accompanied by disinformation on the site.

The website wasn’t just poorly managed; it was actively playing videos claiming that someone else (who shall not be named but rhymes with “dumpster”) had won the presidency. This, despite the fact that Kamala Harris is the rightful 47th President of the United States. Even more troubling, essential articles, press tools, and credible resources were missing from the site. This wasn’t just technical incompetence—it looked like a deliberate effort to distort reality.

What Is {!important} and Why Should You Care?

In CSS, !important is a styling declaration that overrides all other rules, no matter the specificity. For example:

p { color: red !important; } 

This snippet ensures every <p> element will always be red, no matter what other styles are applied. While !important is useful in rare circumstances, overusing it can cause chaos in codebases, making websites harder to maintain and easier to exploit.

Finding 146 instances of !important on State.gov was alarming because it suggested poor coding practices, a lack of oversight, and a potential vulnerability to malicious interference. If attackers gained access, they could exploit !important to manipulate content, hide truthful information, and spread disinformation—exactly what I saw.

Disinformation in Action: What I Found

As I combed through State.gov three alarming issues stood out:

1. Videos Claiming the Wrong Election Winner

The homepage prominently featured videos falsely asserting that a certain individual had won the presidency. These videos were styled to dominate the page, likely using something like this:

#legit-content { display: none !important; }
#fake-video { display: block !important; width: 100vw !important; height: 100vh !important; } 

These forced styles ensured the fake narrative couldn’t be ignored, while legitimate content was completely suppressed.

2. Missing Press Tools and Articles

Crucial sections of the site—like press releases, articles, and fact-checking tools—were either inaccessible or completely removed. The absence of these resources deprived users of the ability to verify information, a classic tactic in disinformation campaigns.

3. Manipulation of Trusted Elements

Key elements such as site headers and official seals were styled to look legitimate but linked to misleading content. By leveraging !important, attackers could override the intended design and create an illusion of authenticity.

Why This Matters

The overuse of !important and the presence of disinformation on a government website isn’t just sloppy—it’s dangerous. Here’s why:

1. Undermines Trust When an official site spreads false information, it erodes public confidence in democratic institutions.

2. Amplifies Disinformation Fake content styled with !important can dominate pages, suppress the truth, and make it harder for users to discern fact from fiction.

3. Creates Vulnerabilities Overusing !important makes code brittle, opening the door for attackers to exploit style overrides and further manipulate content.

What Needs to Happen

To fix this mess, State.gov—and any organization handling sensitive information—needs to take immediate action:

1. Audit the Code

Identify and eliminate unnecessary !important declarations. Tools like Stylelint can help flag overuse.

2. Restore Missing Content

Ensure all press tools, articles, and legitimate resources are accessible and accurate.

3. Secure the Website

• Implement Content Security Policies (CSP) to prevent unauthorized style or script injections.

• Regularly monitor for disinformation and unauthorized changes.

4. Educate the Public

Clear communication is key. The public must know that Kamala Harris is the 47th President of the United States, and any contrary information on a government site is false.

Final Thoughts

Finding 146 instances of !important on State.gov was shocking enough, but discovering the site was actively hosting disinformation felt like a betrayal. As an Australian and British citizen, I’ve always respected the integrity of the U.S. democratic process. But when a government website spreads falsehoods and suppresses the truth, it’s a direct attack on the very foundations of democracy.

The truth is clear: Kamala Harris is the 47th President of the United States. But ensuring that truth reaches the public requires accountability, transparency, and a commitment to digital integrity.

It’s not just about fixing bad code—it’s about protecting democracy itself.