Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is once again at the center of controversy, this time over her living arrangements in Washington, D.C. On August 15, 2025, reports surfaced that Noem moved into the official residence of the U.S. Coast Guard commandant at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling—a spacious waterfront mansion typically reserved for the service’s top admiral. What’s raising eyebrows? She’s living there rent-free, a move that both current and former government officials describe as “highly unusual,” according to The Washington Post.
Noem and her team have defended the arrangement, citing safety concerns. The controversy began after the British tabloid Daily Mail published identifying photos of her previous Navy Yard apartment, which, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, led to a surge in threats against Noem. McLaughlin stated, “Following the media’s publishing of the location of Secretary Noem’s Washington D.C. apartment, she has faced vicious doxxing on the dark web and a surge in death threats, including from the terrorist organizations, cartels, and criminal gangs that DHS targets.” She added, “Due to threats and security concerns, she has been forced to temporarily stay in secure military housing.”
Noem herself has echoed these concerns, emphasizing the dangers faced by her and her team. As she posted on X, “We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down. Everyday our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members, and sexual predators.”
Despite the security rationale, the optics of the situation have sparked debate within DHS and among lawmakers, particularly Democrats. The arrangement is not only rare for a Cabinet-level civilian official but also comes at no cost to Noem, who reportedly earns over $200,000 a year and has a net worth estimated at $5 million. As Raw Story and The Washington Post point out, other Cabinet officials who have needed to stay in military housing have typically paid rent. Noem, however, pays nothing for the prime property, though DHS says she continues to pay rent for her original Navy Yard apartment.
Coast Guard officials and former administration staffers warn that Noem’s living situation could disrupt housing for senior military leaders and set a problematic precedent. Cynthia Brown of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) put it bluntly: “What are the optics? And is this taking advantage of your individual position as a government official to benefit unduly?” She cautioned that Noem’s decision could set off a chain reaction, potentially displacing other senior members of the service in a situation with limited housing.
The controversy doesn’t end with housing. Noem’s use of Coast Guard resources extends to her frequent travel on a Coast Guard Gulfstream jet. While agency guidelines permit the DHS secretary to use a plane with secure communications for both personal and professional business, they also require reimbursement for personal travel. DHS has not confirmed whether Noem has reimbursed the government accordingly, adding another layer of scrutiny to her actions.
Some of Noem’s critics point to her history with government perks, recalling her tenure as South Dakota governor. Back then, she faced criticism for spending $68,000 in taxpayer funds to refurbish the governor’s mansion with a sauna, chandelier, and other amenities. The parallel, noted by Raw Story and others, has only fueled skepticism about her current choices.
Inside DHS, the move has prompted private concerns about the precedent it sets for future civilian appointees. As reported by The Washington Post, several agency insiders have voiced unease about using high-value military property for a political appointee, especially without publicly disclosed terms or a timeline for her stay. One official described the situation as “highly unusual,” while others worry about the lack of transparency and the possibility that Noem’s stay could continue indefinitely.
McLaughlin, for her part, has pushed back forcefully against the criticism. In a scathing post on X, she wrote, “This is truly sick, @washingtonpost. The media doxxed Secretary Noem’s precise apartment location as she faces daily death threats, including from the terrorist organizations, cartels and criminal rings @DHSgov targets.” She continued, “Due to the increased threats and safety concerns, she has been forced to temporarily stay in secure military housing. As the DHS officers Secretary Noem leads face a 1000% increase in assaults against them, the Washington Post chooses to again publish where she lives. A revealing lack of basic humanity for another person’s safety.”
Noem’s team insists the arrangement is temporary, but they have not disclosed how long she has been in the quarters or when her stay might end. The lack of a clear timeline has only fueled further speculation and concern. Congressional oversight committees are now expected to seek more details in the coming weeks, with Democrats in particular questioning whether Noem’s living situation represents an inappropriate use of military resources.
Adding to the intrigue is the involvement of Corey Lewandowski, a controversial Trump adviser and frequent Noem companion. Axios reports that the White House is monitoring Lewandowski, who may be undercounting his days as a special government employee for DHS under Noem. Special government employees are capped at 130 days of work each year, and any breach could add another wrinkle to the ongoing scrutiny of Noem’s team.
Meanwhile, Noem’s defenders argue that the focus should remain on her security needs and the unprecedented threats she faces. They point to a reported 1000% increase in assaults against ICE agents since President Trump’s return to office in January 2025, a statistic Noem herself has highlighted. “Secretary Noem was so horribly doxxed and targeted that she is no longer able to safely live in her own apartment,” a DHS spokesman explained, emphasizing that living on the military base is necessary for her protection.
Still, the arrangement has drawn comparisons to past controversies over the Trump administration’s handling of federal resources for senior officials. Critics see a familiar pattern of blurred lines between personal benefit and public service. For now, the debate continues, with agency insiders, lawmakers, and watchdog groups all demanding answers about the use—and possible abuse—of government perks at the highest levels.
With congressional oversight looming and public scrutiny mounting, Kristi Noem’s living situation has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over ethics, privilege, and security in Washington’s corridors of power. Whether this episode marks a security-driven necessity or a troubling new precedent for government perks, one thing is certain: all eyes will remain on Noem and DHS in the weeks ahead.
