Normally I agree with you. Most of the time this happens, it's a journalist creating a story where there is none. But in this case someone relevant and notable

Normally I agree with you. Most of the time this happens, it's a journalist creating a story where there is none. But in this case someone relevant and notable (the "senior counselor to homeland security secretary") is making this representation to government ("House homeland security committee") so I think the article is newsworthy in general. You refer specifically to one statement that does seem unsubstantiated though (a nameless "senior official" is pretty weaselly); I agree with you there.