Kristi Noem’s tenure as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security appears increasingly uncertain as internal tensions rise within the department and pressure mounts from the White House to accelerate deportations, according to multiple reports and officials familiar with the situation.
Political insiders and media commentators have pointed to a recent, contentious appearance by Noem before the House Homeland Security Committee as a turning point. Following the hearing, reports emerged suggesting that President Donald Trump has been weighing leadership changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin reportedly discussed as a possible replacement. While no official decision has been announced, several senior figures aligned with the administration are said to be pushing for Noem’s removal.
NBC News reports that friction inside DHS has intensified as deportation numbers fall short of the administration’s targets. Trump campaigned on launching the largest mass deportation effort in U.S. history, but recent data indicates Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is arresting fewer than 1,000 people per day on average—well below the 3,000 daily goal set in May by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
(Below is the full video of Kristi Noem testifying at the House hearing)
According to two DHS officials cited by NBC, Noem and her close adviser, Corey Lewandowski, have privately blamed agency subordinates for failing to meet arrest quotas and for straining relationships with the White House. The officials said responsibility has been shifted onto acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott, contributing to a climate of distrust and internal surveillance concerns within the department.
The reported turmoil has also affected morale among senior staff. One DHS official told NBC that leaders have become wary of communicating via email or text amid fears their messages could be monitored. Lyons has reportedly pushed back against claims that enforcement failures rest with ICE leadership, at one point threatening to resign. Scott, meanwhile, has allegedly been sidelined from key discussions despite overseeing record-low border crossings during his tenure.
The White House has publicly defended Noem. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson praised her leadership, saying she is “doing a great job implementing the president’s agenda and making America safe again.” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin echoed that view, asserting that deportations and voluntary departures are increasing and that ICE is on pace to remove more than 600,000 people by the end of Trump’s first year back in office. NBC News said it has not independently verified those figures.
Amid the uncertainty, changes are already underway at DHS. Noem’s deputy, Troy Edgar, has reportedly been tapped for a diplomatic post as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, a move that would remove him from the department’s second-highest position.
While Trump has a history of abrupt personnel shifts and could still reverse course, the developments point to a possible cabinet reshuffle early next year. If that happens, Noem appears to be among the most vulnerable senior officials, as the administration struggles to reconcile ambitious immigration promises with operational realities on the ground.
