Wall Street Journal Exposé Reveals 'Constant Chaos' at DHS Under Noem's Leadership
A bombshell report from the Wall Street Journal has alleged that the Department of Homeland Security is mired in a state of "constant chaos" under the leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem and her top adviser Corey Lewandowski. The newspaper cites multiple sources within the department who are highly critical of Noem's tenure, painting an unflattering portrait of a politician accused of prioritizing personal stardom over effective governance.
Allegations of Personal Ambition and Internal Strife
The report describes Noem as a secretary who has sought to "burnish her personal stardom at every turn," staging headline-grabbing immigration crackdowns while sidelining rivals and dissenters. It notes her penchant for posing in agency-branded flak jackets and caps, often with guns as props, all meticulously styled with "TV-ready hair and makeup." This focus on image, according to the WSJ, has come at the expense of departmental stability.
Furthermore, the newspaper reveals that President Donald Trump has entertained calls to fire both Noem and Lewandowski due to widespread discontent about their management. However, he has so far refrained from taking that drastic step. A DHS spokesperson has challenged several points in the report, though the Independent's request for comment from the department remains unanswered.
Controversial Relationship and Rivalries
The WSJ revives long-standing rumors of an extramarital affair between Noem and Lewandowski, both of whom are married and have repeatedly denied the allegations. The report states that their "close relationship had already made Trump and his top advisers uncomfortable." It claims Trump rejected Lewandowski serving as Noem's chief of staff due to these reports, which he allegedly continues to mention.
In response to tabloid photos showing Lewandowski frequently visiting Noem's apartment last year, the secretary reportedly moved into a government-owned waterfront house on a Washington, D.C. military base, provided for the Coast Guard head. A DHS spokesperson cited security reasons for the move, stating Noem pays rent and admonishing the paper for "salacious, baseless gossip."
The exposé also highlights a heated personal rivalry between Noem and Trump's border czar, Tom Homan. It alleges Noem routinely berated staff if she saw Homan on television and meticulously tracked their appearances to ensure she had more airtime. On one occasion, she allegedly instructed aides to guarantee she drew a larger conference crowd than Homan. A DHS spokesperson denied this claim, but the WSJ adds that the two rarely speak, with Homan having complained to the White House about her leadership.
Fallout from Minneapolis Shooting and Bizarre Incidents
The report details the fallout from the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis in January, which sparked public uproar. Noem and Lewandowski have since been on a "rehabilitation tour," holding crisis talks with Trump and staging events in Florida and Miami. Ironically, they reportedly "berated" Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons over the deluge of social media videos from Minneapolis, despite having previously pushed agents to film dramatic arrests for online content.
Among the stranger controversies alleged is an incident where Noem allegedly ordered a Coast Guard pilot fired after a maintenance issue forced a plane switch, causing her favorite blanket to be left behind. The pilot was abruptly dismissed, told to take a commercial flight home, then reinstated because no one else was available to continue the journey. The DHS spokesperson did not address this but claimed the secretary makes personnel decisions "to deliver excellence."
Lewandowski's Quest for Authority and Retaliatory Tactics
The WSJ makes a bizarre claim that Lewandowski "made it known to top ICE officials that he wanted to be issued a law enforcement badge and a federally-issued gun," despite lacking the required training. When former ICE official Tom Feeley was considered for a director role, Lewandowski allegedly asked if he would issue the props; Feeley refused and was subsequently overlooked. ICE lawyer Ken Padilla reportedly refused the same request and was demoted to FEMA.
Lewandowski ultimately obtained a gun, the report states, allegedly signed off by an ICE director's autopen—an ironic detail given Trump's past mockery of Joe Biden's autopen use. The DHS spokesperson denied these events, stating Lewandowski made no such efforts and that Padilla was placed on leave for other reasons. Similar retaliatory tactics were alleged against Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, whom Noem and Lewandowski allegedly tried to force out by reassigning his chief of staff and pressuring his deputy to resign.
Despite the turmoil, Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt has insisted the president retains full confidence in Noem, crediting them with ensuring "the most secure border in our nation's history." The WSJ exposé, however, paints a starkly different picture of a department grappling with internal chaos and leadership controversies.
