In a turbulent chapter for the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure has become a lightning rod for controversy, marked by sweeping personnel shakeups, internal feuds, and persistent rumors of a romantic relationship with her top aide, Corey Lewandowski. According to detailed reporting from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, Noem’s leadership style and the duo’s management tactics have left the department in a state of near-constant upheaval, raising questions about the agency’s direction and the administration’s priorities.
From her earliest days at the helm, Noem positioned herself as the public face of President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation agenda. She joined a federal immigration raid in New York, making a splashy entrance that set the tone for her approach: hands-on, highly visible, and unapologetically hardline. This persona extended to controversial photo opportunities, including a much-discussed appearance at an El Salvador mega-prison where the administration was transporting immigrants with alleged gang ties, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
But behind the scenes, the atmosphere at Homeland Security has been anything but stable. The Journal’s investigation revealed that Noem, together with Lewandowski—her unofficial chief adviser and, according to numerous sources, her romantic partner—has overseen the demotion or firing of roughly 80 percent of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) field leadership. This wave of dismissals has created a climate of fear and uncertainty within the agency. A spokesperson for DHS, however, insisted to the Journal that Noem has “made personnel decisions to deliver excellence.”
The duo’s management style has often veered into the bizarre. One incident, recounted by both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post, saw Lewandowski order the firing of a Coast Guard pilot after a maintenance issue forced Noem to switch planes and her blanket was left behind. The pilot was told to find a commercial flight home, only to be reinstated when it became clear there was no one else available to fly the party back. The DHS spokesperson did not deny the account, reiterating only that Noem’s personnel decisions were made in pursuit of excellence.
Lewandowski’s influence within the department has drawn scrutiny not just for his personnel decisions but for his blurred lines of authority. Officially, he is an unpaid special government employee, a status that limits him to 130 days of work per year. Yet, as The New York Post detailed, Lewandowski has managed to skirt this cap by avoiding official check-ins and hitching rides in Noem’s motorcade, which allows him to bypass badge checks. His living arrangements have also raised eyebrows: multiple sources told the Post that Lewandowski effectively lives with Noem in the former Coast Guard Commandant’s residence in Southwest Washington, “if living means spending nights regularly.”
The relationship between Noem and Lewandowski is an open secret within the administration, despite both being married to other people. President Trump himself is reportedly “uncomfortable” with the dynamic, frequently referencing their closeness in private conversations. One source recounted Trump’s go-to story: “He frequently tells a story about seeing the two take sips from the same can of soda. ‘You can’t do that, it’s pretty obvious! You can’t do that, everyone’s going to know!’” Despite this discomfort, Trump has blocked Lewandowski from officially serving as Noem’s chief of staff, but allowed him to operate as her chief adviser.
Noem’s assertive approach has not endeared her to all her colleagues. She reportedly kept careful tabs on her own media appearances compared to those of border czar Tom Homan, and would “routinely berate” staffers when Homan received more airtime—a claim denied by a DHS spokesperson. Tensions also flared with acting ICE director Todd Lyons, particularly over videos showing immigration agents clashing with Minnesota residents. Ironically, Noem and Lewandowski had previously encouraged ICE officers to film their arrests for promotional purposes, only to later blame Lyons for the negative publicity, which they said Trump hated.
The deepest rift appears to be with U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner Rodney Scott. Scott blamed Noem for delays and increased costs in border-wall construction, alleging she let a bulk steel contract languish for months, resulting in a $100 million price hike by the time she signed off. Scott also opposed the elevation of Border Patrol commander-at-large Greg Bovino, citing concerns over his “brash tactics.” After Scott refused to take orders from Lewandowski due to his 130-day work limit, his chief of staff was ousted and his deputy was forced to resign in what appeared to be retaliation, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Lewandowski’s ambitions did not stop at personnel. He sought to be issued a gun and an official DHS badge, a request initially rebuffed by several officials. Those who refused—such as Tom Feeley, a top ICE official, and Ken Padilla, a top ICE lawyer—found themselves passed over for promotions or reassigned. Eventually, Lewandowski secured the badge through other agency lawyers and an autopen signature, an ironic twist given Trump’s criticisms of the Biden administration’s use of the device. While a DHS spokesperson denied that Lewandowski went to such lengths, he has reportedly been seen wearing a Homeland Security badge.
Noem’s hands-on approach extended to the department’s finances. She instituted a new approval process for contracts over $100,000, a move critics say has slowed the pace of disaster relief and other critical funding. In Georgia, top officials in Governor Brian Kemp’s office had to call DHS aides to get disaster aid approved, while in Florida, officials struggled for months to secure money for “Alligator Alcatraz,” a tent camp in the Everglades where ICE detains thousands of immigrants. Lawmakers from both parties have complained about Noem’s slow responses and lack of communication, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Despite the chaos and criticism, the White House has stood by Noem. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared, “President Trump and Secretary Noem have ensured the most secure border in our Nation’s history, and our homeland is undoubtedly safer today than it was when the president took office last year.” She added, “The president continues to have full confidence in the secretary.”
On February 12, 2026, border czar Tom Homan announced the end of the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, citing improved cooperation with local officials. This came in the wake of the fatal shooting of two anti-deportation activists in Minneapolis, a flashpoint that led Trump to send Homan to restore order and highlighted the administration’s willingness to shuffle personnel in response to crises.
As the midterm elections approach, speculation swirls about Noem’s future. Some sources close to the administration believe she may be “promoted” elsewhere after November, but for now, she remains at the center of a department defined by turbulence, loyalty tests, and a management style that has upended the agency’s traditional order.
With Noem and Lewandowski’s partnership continuing to shape the department’s fate, the story of DHS remains one of intrigue, power struggles, and decisions that ripple far beyond the agency’s Washington headquarters.