DHS Disputes NY Magazine Cover Story Alleging Kristi Noem Lacks Control of Agency
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pushing back against a New york Magazine cover story alleging that Secretary Kristi Noem does not effectively run the agency, asserting that the piece is based on “gossip” and misrepresents her leadership. The dispute comes as DHS reports important numbers in border enforcement and removals.
The New York magazine article, published this week, claims Noem is largely absent from day-to-day operations and that key decisions are being made by a network of outside consultants and political appointees. DHS officials strongly deny these claims, arguing Noem is actively engaged and driving policy.The controversy unfolds amid ongoing scrutiny of the Biden administration’s immigration policies and heightened political debate surrounding border security.
“That’s leadership,not gossip – America’s safer and stronger because of Kristi Noem,” said DHS spokesperson Sean McLaughlin in a statement to Fox News Digital.
According to DHS, the agency has arrested more than 359,000 illegal migrants and removed over 332,000 illegal migrants from the U.S. as of last month. These figures are central to the administration’s defense of its border enforcement efforts.
NY Magazine spokesperson Lauren Starke defended the reporting, stating the cover story was ”carefully reported and fact-checked.” Starke added that their Washington correspondent interviewed over a dozen current and former DHS staffers, Trump administration officials, lobbyists, consultants, immigration experts, and former colleagues of Noem in South Dakota. “There is a public interest in government accountability, and we stand by this story,” she said.
Noem was selected by President Donald Trump to lead DHS shortly after his victory in November 2020. The current dispute highlights the challenges facing the agency as it navigates complex immigration issues and political pressures.
