Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is set to take the hot seat before the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 3, a hearing that’s rapidly shifting from routine oversight to a politically charged inquisition over her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). An aide to Committee Chair Chuck Grassley confirmed the date as pressure mounts over federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
Noem’s testimony comes amid fierce bipartisan criticism of DHS’s tactics after two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis this month — incidents that have galvanized lawmakers, local officials, and national observers. The more recent killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by an immigration agent and the earlier death of Renee Nicole Good have left Noem defending her agency’s actions as outrage spreads.
Senate Democrats, including Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, publicly blasted Noem for dodging the committee last year and only now agreeing to appear *“should she still be DHS Secretary at that time,” a statement that underscored deep frustration with her handling of the crisis. Durbin accused her of delaying accountability amid “violence and deaths involving DHS.”
Republicans are hardly unified either. GOP senators such as Thom Tillis (N.C.) have called for an independent investigation into the latest Minneapolis shooting, suggesting even some within the party are uneasy with DHS’s explanations and rhetoric.
Expectations for the hearing suggest it will be ugly. Noem is likely to face intense questioning about her public defense of federal agents and her controversial characterization of violent incidents in Minneapolis, which have drawn scorn from local leaders and fueled protests.
The testimony is taking shape against the backdrop of deeper political tensions. Some Senate Democrats have threatened to block funding for DHS unless there are answers about enforcement practices that have ignited nationwide debate over federal authority and civil liberties.
Meanwhile, the Minneapolis backlash is bleeding into broader GOP politics. A handful of Republican lawmakers, particularly those with Trump‑aligned constituencies, are expressing unease about the fallout and the public relations disaster unfolding around DHS. That reaction reflects a shift among some conservatives who once gave Noem’s immigration hard line unquestioned support.
In the background, the White House has shuffled senior DHS operational leadership, bringing in Trump border advisor Tom Homan to oversee Minneapolis immigration enforcement and reposition the messaging, a tacit acknowledgment of the mess Noem has found herself in.
All signs point to March 3 being one of the most consequential congressional grilling Noem has faced to date — not just about policy details, but about whether her stewardship of DHS can survive a political firestorm sparked by fatal shootings, public protests, and bipartisan calls for accountability.
