Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem struggled several times during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday to defend her record as she came under fire from lawmakers of both parties over the deadly ICE shooting in Minnesota, heavy-handed immigration enforcement tactics, FEMA disaster delays, a controversial government plane and a $220 million advertising campaign.
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The tense hearing was in sharp contrast to the Senate vote that confirmed Noem’s appointment last year. The Senate confirmed the former South Dakota governor as Secretary of Homeland Security in January 2025 by a vote of 59-34, with all Republicans and seven Democrats supporting her nomination.
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But on Tuesday, some of the sharpest criticism came from members of her own party. Throughout the hearing, Noem defended DHS officials as trained professionals who conduct targeted enforcement efforts focused on threats to public safety and rejected claims that the department was acting outside the scope of the Constitution.
While Democrats touted constitutional concerns over immigration enforcement tactics and the ICE shooting in Minnesota, Republican Sens. Thom Tillis (North Carolina) and John Kennedy (Louisiana) issued the strongest rebukes of Trump administration officials. The hours-long hearing revealed growing discomfort within the Republican Party over how immigration policy is being enforced and whether operational missteps are undermining public trust in the effort.
Tillis issues a “performance review” warning.
Tillis used his allotted 10 minutes to do what he called “performance reviews” rather than asking questions.
“I’m not looking for a response,” Tillis said, making it clear that he intended to give a lecture, not a dialogue.
Tillis said he supports aggressive immigration enforcement, but argued that DHS is prioritizing arrests over targeting dangerous criminals. “We just want numbers,” he said, referring to what he characterized as pressure from the White House. “It’s not the quantity that matters, it’s the quality. It’s the quality.”
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He accused Noem of mishandling the aftermath of the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Preti during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, saying the department’s response undermined the credibility of ICE agents. “You left them blue in the face,” Tillis said.
He went further, saying he had already “called for his resignation” and warning that if DHS did not answer his outstanding oversight questions, he would further escalate his efforts in Congress.
Mr. Tillis also criticized FEMA’s disaster response in North Carolina, questioning a policy that required Mr. Noem to personally scrutinize spending over $100,000, which he suggested delayed relief efforts after the severe storm. Noem attempted to respond throughout her remarks, but was repeatedly cut off as Tillis continued to control her time.
President Kennedy on spending, optics, and DHS jets
Kennedy made another sharp criticism, focusing on the politics surrounding spending decisions and DHS leadership.
Ms. Kennedy challenged Ms. Noem over the department’s $220 million ad campaign touting immigration enforcement policies that featured her image prominently. “How do you resolve your concerns about waste and the fact that you spent $220 million on TV ads that featured you prominently?” he asked.
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Mr. Kennedy also pressed Mr. Noem over the department’s use of Boeing 737 aircraft, which are said to have high-end amenities such as sleeping quarters. Reports about the plane have sparked controversy in Washington, along with speculation about Noem’s relationship with senior advisers and whether the plane was used for personal travel. Noem defended the plane as being modified for official service and said purchasing a government-owned aircraft saves taxpayers money compared to leasing.
Democrats focus on mass shootings and civil liberties
Democrats focused many of their questions on the surge in enforcement operations in Minneapolis, which involved more than 3,000 federal immigration agents. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said federal agents were involved in two of the three law enforcement shootings in Minneapolis in the past month. “My constituents, Lenny Goode and Alex Preti, were murdered. They should be alive today,” Klobuchar said.
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Hawaii Sen. Maisie Hirono challenged Noem over her initial public statements describing the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker accused DHS of illegally detaining American citizens, citing court findings that ICE has violated numerous court orders this year. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware questioned whether DHS is operating on an informal deportation quota following public comments by White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who referred to daily arrest targets.
“Senator, there are no quotas in our law enforcement,” Noem said.
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