Overview
- At a tense Senate Judiciary hearing, Kristi Noem faced bipartisan criticism and multiple calls to resign as she declined to retract or apologize for describing the Minneapolis victims as involved in domestic terrorism.
- Noem told senators there are no plans to deploy ICE or CBP to polling places, yet she repeatedly declined to rule out the possibility outright when pressed.
- Lawmakers scrutinized DHS spending, pressing Noem on a roughly $220 million advertising campaign linked in reports to associates and on a refurbished DHS jet; she denied directing the contracts and said the aircraft will be used for deportations and official travel.
- Noem testified that about 650 federal immigration agents remain in Minnesota, even after public announcements of a drawdown, as investigations and oversight into the shootings continue.
- One day later, House Judiciary Republicans largely backed Noem and advanced a DHS funding bill 211–209, while Democrats pressed her on FEMA delays and questioned reports about adviser Corey Lewandowski’s influence, which she disputed.