The political world was shaken after a detailed CNN report claimed that President Donald Trump might be considering major Cabinet changes. The report said these discussions were happening just weeks before he reaches the one-year mark of his second term. According to CNN, aides had begun planning for possible shifts at several agencies.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, reacted quickly and angrily. She posted on social media that the story was “100% Fake News” and accused CNN of creating drama to boost its ratings. She insisted that President Trump was completely happy with his Cabinet and that no changes were being prepared.
But inside the government, the picture described by officials looked very different. For weeks, some administration and DHS officials had been quietly suggesting that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, 53, might be struggling. Critics inside the department had nicknamed her “ICE Barbie.” Several said her close working relationship with adviser Corey Lewandowski, 52, had caused growing tension.
Concerns Rise Inside Homeland Security
Sources told CNN and other outlets that Noem and Lewandowski had become a powerful pair inside the Department of Homeland Security. Lewandowski, who was brought in as a special government employee, held temporary status but still used wide authority in the department. Officials said he directed personnel firings, placed workers on administrative leave, and confronted senior staff he believed were slowing down Trump’s immigration goals.
This leadership style caused frustration among top immigration officials. The pressure increased because Trump’s immigration adviser Stephen Miller, 40, was pushing the department to reach a target of 3,000 deportations per day. To meet that goal, ICE began a rapid hiring wave that several described as chaotic. One source said it felt like a “s–tshow,” with rushed decisions and unclear roles.
The growing influence of Lewandowski led to a contentious meeting in September involving President Trump, Noem, and Lewandowski. Insiders said the meeting turned tense, especially between Trump and Lewandowski. This was notable because their long-standing relationship had helped Lewandowski survive many internal battles in the past. The shift added fuel to speculation that Noem and Lewandowski might both be vulnerable to being removed.
CNN also reported that Noem and Lewandowski’s relationship, which began during Noem’s time as South Dakota governor, created a two-person leadership system at DHS. This unusual setup left some staff uncertain about who held final authority. According to several officials, it also encouraged discussions inside the White House about whether it was time for a wider reset at the department.
Questions Surround Other Cabinet Members
The concerns mentioned by CNN were not limited to Homeland Security. At the Department of Energy, officials complained that Secretary Chris Wright, 60, had slowed several projects the administration wanted to advance. This placed him on the list of possible replacements.
At the Department of Defense, Secretary Pete Hegseth, 45, faced scrutiny after a Pentagon watchdog investigated mishandled classified information. Meanwhile, at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, 44, was said to have frustrated the president with her Iran briefings over the summer.
The report also highlighted Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, 58, as a potential candidate for any opening after he leaves office on January 1. Trump had praised him as “one of the great governors,” but people close to Youngkin said he preferred an economic position rather than a role tied to deportation operations.
While Trump’s advisers had hoped to avoid the fast turnover seen in his first term, some officials admitted that the end of a president’s first year is often when changes are made. Even as Leavitt denied everything, conversations inside departments continued about pressure, uncertainty, and possible shifts involving Noem, Lewandowski, Wright, Hegseth, and Gabbard.
