A routine House Homeland Security Committee hearing erupted into political theater Thursday when Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) opened the proceedings by calling on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign. The hearing, focused on “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland,” quickly veered into partisan confrontation as Thompson accused Noem of undermining the very department she leads.
“You have systematically dismantled the Department of Homeland Security, put your own interests above the department, and violated the law,” Thompson charged. “You are making America less safe… I call on you to resign. That is, if President Trump doesn’t fire you first.”
Noem, joined by National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent and FBI National Security Branch Operations Director Michael Glasheen, delivered her prepared remarks amid interruptions from anti-ICE protesters who shouted, “Get ICE off our streets” before being escorted out by Capitol Police.
Noem noted that one of her grandchildren, present in the audience, was startled by Thompson’s broadside. “I don’t think she agreed with him,” Noem quipped.
The secretary defended her tenure, crediting DHS with strengthening border security, combating drug trafficking, disrupting transnational criminal networks and protecting critical infrastructure. She also warned of heightened threats posed by domestic extremists and radical Islamist terrorism, particularly as the U.S. prepares for major events in 2026 such as the World Cup and the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Rumors that President Trump was considering replacing Noem surfaced earlier this week, but the president dismissed them, calling her “fantastic.” Noem likewise told Fox News the speculation was “absolutely not true,” stressing she remains committed to serving “at his pleasure.”
