A new Wall Street Journal investigation paints a troubling picture of what’s happening inside the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Kristi Noem, and the report is likely to fuel already‑intense criticism from both sides of the political aisle. According to the article, Noem’s leadership has been marked by disruption and internal turmoil, with longtime career officials privately warning that her methods are harming the agency’s core mission.
The story highlights how Noem and her close adviser Corey Lewandowski have placed a premium on dramatic immigration actions, media attention, and managing Noem’s public persona — even at the expense of traditional procedure. Veteran DHS officials told the Journal they feel sidelined and frustrated.
Among the notable points in the report:
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Lewandowski’s role: Before joining DHS, Lewandowski hoped to be chief of staff — a request reportedly shot down by President Trump amid reporting of a personal relationship between him and Noem. Both are married to other people. A DHS spokesperson dismissed these claims as unfounded. Separately, Lewandowski fought to be armed in his government role but was denied because of the limits tied to his special government employee status.
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Contract control: Noem has taken an unusually hands‑on approach to awarding DHS contracts, and Lewandowski is said to be deeply involved in that process. People familiar with DHS operations told the Journal this has caused concern inside the White House and within the department due to his private business interests.
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Blanket incident: One of the more bizarre anecdotes in the report involves a Coast Guard pilot who was allegedly dismissed after a blanket belonging to Noem was left behind during a plane change. The pilot was then told to fly home commercially, only to be brought back once officials realized there was no one else available.
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Rivalries: According to the investigation, Noem closely tracks media appearances by border czar Tom Homan — and has pressured staff if Homan appears on TV more often than she does. The two reportedly have minimal direct communication, and Homan has repeatedly raised concerns about Noem with the White House, sources say.
The full Wall Street Journal article also includes responses from DHS officials defending the secretary’s decisions.