Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem walked straight into a political buzz saw on Capitol Hill this week — and then walked right back out of it when the questioning got too hot.
Appearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, Noem was already under pressure amid reports she may be on her way out at DHS. But the hearing took a sharp turn when Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) confronted her with real-world fallout from ICE actions that directly contradicted her claim: “We have not deported U.S. citizens or military veterans.”
Magaziner opened with a blunt reminder of what’s at stake.
“I don’t believe you served in the military. I haven’t either,” he said, “but I think you and I can agree that, as Americans, we owe everything to those who have served our country in uniform, particularly those who have served in combat. Do you agree with that?”
Noem’s answer — “I believe that people that are in this United States that are citizens have legal status here” — immediately set up the clash that followed.
Magaziner then introduced two veterans whose lives have been upended by DHS policies, including Navy combat veteran Jim Brown, sitting in the audience. Brown’s wife Donna — who legally immigrated from Ireland at age 11 and has lived here for 48 years — has spent the last four months in jail awaiting deportation over two bad checks totaling $80 written a decade ago.
Brown previously told The Guardian he “100%” regretted voting for Donald Trump, a confession that drew national attention.
Magaziner asked Brown to stand. “Madam Secretary, the man behind you… his name is Jim Brown from Troy, Missouri,” he said. “Because of you. Jim’s wife, Donna, has been in prison for the last four months… She did not come here illegally and she has never committed any crime other than writing two bad checks totaling $80.10 years ago. She is currently in prison and facing deportation.”
Then came the pointed ask: “Miss Noem, will you thank Mr. Brown for his service to our country?”
Noem turned, murmured, “Thank you, Mr. Brown, for your service to our country.”
Magaziner didn’t let up: “What possible explanation can there be for locking up his wife for four months when she has committed no crime, other than writing a couple of bad checks for $80?”
Noem’s response: “Sir, it is not my prerogative, my attitude or my job to pick and choose which laws in this country get enforced.”
And Then She Left
Hours before the hearing was scheduled to wrap, Noem abruptly announced she needed to leave early.
“I have to actually leave this hearing early because the FEMA review council is giving their report today on suggestions for changes to FEMA,” she said, gathering her things.
Protesters immediately erupted. “Shame!” someone shouted as she exited. Another yelled, “You are the modern SS & Gestapo!” Noem paused only long enough to hug “Angel Mom” Agnes Gibboney, whose son was killed by an undocumented immigrant — a moment protesters blasted as using Gibboney as a “shield.”
Democrats: The Excuse Was Fake
But the drama didn’t end there.
Minutes after Noem fled the room, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) posted on X that the FEMA meeting she said she had to rush to had already been canceled.
“Noem said she had to go chair the FEMA review council meeting. BUT I’m told that meeting was canceled,” he wrote.
NOTUS later confirmed it: the FEMA Review Council meeting was abruptly scrapped minutes before it was set to begin. One FEMA source said the team got a message that it was postponed “until further notice.” It wasn’t clear whether Noem knew that — but she oversees FEMA, making the timing incredibly hard to ignore.
Meanwhile, Rep. Julie Johnson (D-TX) had been seconds away from starting her five-minute round of questioning when Noem stood up and bolted. Given that Noem had already faced accusations of perjury and even impeachment threats during the hearing, it didn’t take long for Democrats to accuse her of fleeing the room to avoid more scrutiny.
What’s clear is that by the time Noem’s entourage swept her out the door, the room had turned against her — veterans, lawmakers, protesters, and even her own stated schedule.
Check the report below from Meidas Touch:
