Bipartisan Pressure Mounts on Secretary Noem Amid DHS Funding Standoff
Washington, Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
Facing bipartisan resignation calls, Secretary Noem refused to retract “domestic terrorism” labels for deceased U.S. citizens during Tuesday’s contentious Senate hearing on the ongoing DHS funding stalemate.
Senate Hearing Shifts Focus to Internal Conduct
While Secretary Noem previously warned of external threats regarding Iranian sleeper cells, the narrative shifted sharply during Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, where the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief faced bipartisan condemnation over agency management and rhetoric [1][6]. The hearing, held on March 3, 2026, occurred amidst a crippling partial government shutdown that began on February 14, leaving more than 100,000 DHS employees working without pay for the third time in five months [1][5]. While Noem attempted to focus on border security achievements—citing the removal of nearly 3 million illegal aliens—legislators from both parties interrogated her leadership style and the agency’s handling of civil unrest in Minnesota [1].
Bipartisan Calls for Resignation
The political volatility surrounding the DHS intensified as lawmakers openly called for Secretary Noem’s resignation. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) became the first Republican senator to demand her ouster, characterizing her tenure as a “disaster” and accusing the agency of “stonewalling” investigators regarding alleged misconduct [3][5]. Across the aisle, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) argued that Noem had violated the separation of powers and civil rights, stating she should resign or face impeachment by Congress [3]. The deadlock over funding remains severe; Senate Democrats have issued 10 demands regarding immigration officer conduct that must be met before they agree to short-term funding measures, while Noem accused them of holding the department “hostage” [1].
Controversy Over “Domestic Terrorism” Labels
A central point of contention was Secretary Noem’s refusal to retract her characterization of Renee Good and Alex Pretti—two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents in January 2026—as “domestic terrorists” [2][5]. Despite video evidence contradicting claims that Pretti approached agents with a gun, Noem maintained during questioning by Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) that the events “appeared to be an incident of” terrorism based on preliminary reports from agents on the ground [2][5]. When pressed by Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) to apologize to the families, Noem offered condolences but declined to issue an apology or retract the label, stating she relies on the FBI, which is currently leading the investigation [2][3].
Scrutiny on Contracts and Operations
Financial scrutiny also mounted as Senator Welch questioned a $143 million DHS contract awarded to Safe America Media [3]. The firm reportedly subcontracted work to the Strategy Group, a company led by the husband of Tricia McLaughlin, who served as the top DHS spokeswoman until February 2026, and is linked to Noem adviser Corey Lewandowski [3]. Noem denied personal involvement in the contracting decision [3]. On the operational front, while the DHS has reduced its footprint in Minnesota by roughly 78.333% from its peak of 3,000 agents down to 650, Noem confirmed the agency is simultaneously reviewing Biden-era interviews of border crossers to identify potential sleeper cells following recent hostilities involving Iran [4][5].