Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing growing scrutiny inside the Trump administration as deportation figures continue to lag behind White House expectations, according to multiple reports. Amid mounting pressure, Noem and her close adviser Corey Lewandowski have shifted responsibility for the shortfall toward senior immigration enforcement officials, creating tension within the department and raising questions about Noem’s standing with President Donald Trump.
According to an NBC News report, Noem and Lewandowski have privately blamed Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons and Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott for failing to meet deportation targets set by the White House. The report cited administration sources who said Noem is increasingly viewed as being “on thin ice” as Trump approaches the first year of his second term.
Immigration enforcement has been a defining and controversial priority for Trump, who has repeatedly promised aggressive deportation efforts. However, internal data reviewed by the White House reportedly shows that deportation numbers have not kept pace with the administration’s goals, fueling frustration among senior advisers.
Noem, 54, has publicly described the department’s mission as removing the “worst of the worst” from the United States. Yet critics inside and outside the administration argue that recent enforcement efforts have focused heavily on migrants with minor offenses, such as traffic violations, rather than high-profile criminal cases. Supporters of the administration say the strategy still contributes to broader enforcement objectives, but some officials privately acknowledge the gap between rhetoric and results.
Complicating matters is Noem’s close relationship with Lewandowski, 52, a longtime Trump adviser who remains influential within the administration. The relationship has become a subject of internal discussion, with some White House officials reportedly concerned about Lewandowski’s role in departmental affairs despite holding no formal DHS position.
Those concerns have contributed to speculation that Noem’s tenure may be nearing an end. MSNBC’s Now program reported that White House sources believe Noem could be replaced early next year, with outgoing Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin mentioned as a potential successor. Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser and architect of the administration’s immigration policies, is reportedly leading discussions about restructuring DHS leadership.
Inside the Department of Homeland Security, morale has suffered amid the internal blame-shifting. DHS staffers told NBC News that anxiety has spread through leadership ranks after Commissioner Scott disclosed to colleagues that Lewandowski was monitoring his official communications. The revelation reportedly heightened fears of internal surveillance and retaliation.
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“Everyone in leadership is extremely cautious about what they put in emails or texts,” one DHS employee told NBC News, describing an atmosphere of paranoia and mistrust.
Similar concerns were raised earlier by staffers speaking to The Bulwark, who painted a bleak picture of conditions inside the department. One employee described the situation as chaotic and destabilizing, saying staff members were hoping for a leadership change to restore order before further damage was done.
Despite these reports, the White House has publicly denied that Noem is at risk or has lost the president’s confidence. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed claims of internal discord, emphasizing the administration’s view that immigration enforcement efforts are succeeding.
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“President Trump has assembled the most talented and capable cabinet in American history,” Jackson said in a statement. “Secretary Noem is doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda and making America safe again.”
Jackson added that Trump’s immigration team is unified and that border security has improved significantly under Noem’s leadership. She pointed to increased deportation activity and tighter border controls as evidence of progress, saying the results “speak for themselves.”
President Trump also publicly rejected reports suggesting dissatisfaction with Noem. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said he was surprised to read that he was unhappy with her performance.
“I read a story recently that I’m unhappy with Kristi — I’m so happy with her,” Trump said. “We have a border that’s the best border in the history of our country. Why would I be unhappy? She’s fantastic.”
Noem recently faced pointed questioning during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, where lawmakers pressed her on deportation statistics, border enforcement, and internal management issues at DHS. While Noem defended the department’s record, the hearing underscored the political sensitivity surrounding immigration policy and enforcement benchmarks.
As deportations remain central to Trump’s agenda, pressure on DHS leadership is unlikely to ease. Whether Noem can maintain the president’s confidence amid internal discord, public scrutiny, and ambitious enforcement goals remains an open question as the administration moves into its second year.
For now, the White House insists that unity and progress define its immigration strategy, even as reports from inside DHS suggest a department grappling with uncertainty, leadership tensions, and competing expectations at the highest levels of government.
