As President Trump’s first year back in office comes to a close, two officials-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel-are under intense scrutiny. Both have been praised by the president, yet criticism over their use of resources and policy decisions raises questions about how long they will remain in their roles.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
Noem has been the public face of the administration’s aggressive deportation efforts, delivering on a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda. Her focus on rapidly removing individuals who are in the country illegally has been paired with a push to ramp up immigration enforcement. Sources close to the White House say that deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller and border czar Tom Homan have been the driving forces behind the policies, creating tension between Noem and Homan.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson praised the team: “Secretary Noem, FBI Director Patel, and the President’s entire law enforcement team have done an outstanding job implementing the President’s agenda and Making America Safe Again.” She added that “in less than a year, the border has been secured, criminal illegal aliens are being deported, and all sorts of dangerous criminals are being removed from the streets.” Jackson concluded, “The President’s team will continue delivering in 2026.”
When asked by reporters Monday, Trump said, “I spoke to Kristi Noem today. I spoke to Tom Homan today. They’re doing a great job.” The statement echoed Jackson’s praise and suggested that the president remains satisfied with their performance.
Jason Houser, former chief of staff at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the first Trump administration, said the White House has been “putting out feelers” amid a push to surge deportations. “I have heard from former colleagues and staff that the White House has inquiring about how things are really going. What’s the command and control like? Is everybody on the same page? And clearly, there’s been some inquiries on that,” he said.
Houser added, “There’s been a devaluation of the expertise of leadership.” He described how “good law enforcement officers that have been sidelined, demoted, pushed aside, and greener, more novice, even individuals from outside of the agency that don’t know how interior immigration enforcement work have been put in management positions across the country.” He noted that “how that all fits together is unclear.”
“Internally from across DHS is they would like to get back to doing their mission without it being politicized and turned into social media content constantly, and I think that’s where the secretary has been focused,” Houser said.
A GOP lawmaker suggested that the risk of Noem being fired could be overblown. He said, “Every decision gets made by Trump, and Trump goes, ‘Well, that’s nothing.’…I mean, nothing’s going to happen unless he does [it] – I don’t care what Susie [Wiles] says or anybody else, it’s always Trump.” He added, “So you’re going to have to have a compelling reason for Trump to go ‘Kristi’s done all this for me, and is like a loyal soldier, and I’m gonna get rid of her.’ Why?… It’s going to have to be a compelling reason. What’s the compelling reason? She wants to put him on Mt. Rushmore!”
The lawmaker went on, “Are there knives in the White House? Of course, there are. Are there people out to sink other people? Of course there are,” he added. “But it all goes to the top, and Trump learned the first time around he doesn’t want to act like his administration is chaotic or he’s getting rid of loyal people, and as long as they’re loyal in the base and they’re with him, he doesn’t care. They can do whatever the hell they want.”
FBI Director Kash Patel
Patel has faced criticism over his use of government resources, his handling of high-profile investigations, and his social media presence. The most recent controversy arose after a shooting at Brown University that killed two students. Patel initially tweeted the name of a suspect who was later released, a move that mirrored the earlier incident involving the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk.
Brown University shooter Claudio Neves Valente was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. While the search was ongoing, a previously taped podcast interview with Patel and his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins surfaced online. Patel had faced criticism for using the FBI jet to travel to see Wilkins, and host Katie Miller noted the segment was previously taped.
Wilkins posted photos of herself attending the White House Christmas party, prompting skeptics to question Patel’s attendance amid the search for the shooter.
Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told The Hill, “Look, I mean, this is a job that is as serious as it comes. It’s not about social media. It’s not about, you know, sexy press engagements. It’s about keeping Americans safe. And every time Kash Patel, becomes a social media warrior, he raises questions in the minds of Americans about whether he’s really doing his real job.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, launched an investigation into Patel’s use of the FBI jet. He said, “We had no confidence in his law enforcement acumen before any of these dramatic episodes, but I think the whole country now is really doubting whether he’s the person to be leading the FBI.” Raskin added, “He definitely seems to be enjoying the social aspects of his job and position. He’s been using government jets for date night and to meet his buddies at the boondoggle ranch. He’s been partying up at the White House Holiday Extravaganza. But, you know, there’s still a mass killer on the loose right now.”
On Tuesday, a report from MS NOW found Patel had also acquired a specially armored BMW X5 to be used for himself and his security team, rather than the traditional Chevy Suburban.
Trump has pushed back on reports that Patel’s ouster was imminent, saying his FBI director has been doing “a great job.” He also sought to shift blame away from the FBI and onto Brown University officials for the initial lack of progress in identifying a suspect.
Dan Bongino, who was appointed as deputy FBI director in a similar vein to Patel as a MAGA favorite and “deep state” critic, announced last week he plans to depart in the new year. Bongino’s exit, paired with the decision to bring on former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey as co-deputy director, will likely raise further speculation that Patel’s time may be limited.
Patel still has the backing of many allies in Congress who share his skepticism of the bureau. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told The Hill, “The FBI is much improved under his leadership. And that’s probably what I judge him on, rather than the things of the day. You know, we all get caught on a hot mic. We all trip going upstairs. I mean, the list is endless.”
Issa added, “What he inherited was a criminal organization pretending to be the elite organization it was built and funded to be. What he’s doing is restoring it back to that.”
Internal Tensions and Statements
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said Noem and Homan “are on the same page when it comes to implementing the President’s agenda and the historically secure border proves that.” She emphasized that the border has been secured and that “criminal illegal aliens are being deported.”
The tension between Noem and Homan has been noted by sources close to the administration. They say the two officials “do not get along particularly well,” though it is unclear whether that would lead to the dismissal of either one.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump publicly praises both Kristi Noem and Kash Patel, but internal inquiries suggest scrutiny over their performance.
- Noem’s aggressive deportation agenda clashes with Tom Homan’s approach, creating tension at DHS.
- Patel’s use of government jets, social media presence, and handling of the Brown University shooting have drawn criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans.
The final months of Trump’s first year back in office will likely see continued debate over the leadership of these key officials, as the administration balances policy implementation with scrutiny over conduct and resource use.
