The news comes amid rumours that Kristi Noem’s U.S. Department of Homeland Security is reportedly in “chaos” with many calling for her to be fired.
08:23 ET, 13 Feb 2026Updated 15:13 ET, 13 Feb 2026
Kristi Noem speaks during a press conference near the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem allegedly had somebody fired for forgetting to transfer her blanket onto another plane. The incident was revealed in a new report from the Wall Street Journal, which also alleges that Noem is having an affair with fellow MAGA politician Corey Lewandowski.
The blanket incident that led to the Coast Guard member’s firing is just one in a series of accusations, including allegations that Noem routinely berated her staff.
According to the WSJ, Noem had to switch planes after a maintenance issue was discovered onboard, but her blanket was not moved to the second plane. As a result, the Coast Guard pilot was immediately fired and told to take a commercial flight home upon reaching their destination.
However, Noem eventually reinstated the pilot because no one else was available to fly them home, the outlet stated.
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A DHS spokeswoman did not address the episode in question, but told WSJ that the secretary has “made personnel decisions to deliver excellence.”
The article alleges “chaos” within the DHS, while also addressing speculation that Noem is having an affair with her close adviser Corey Lewandowski. Both of them are married and have publicly denied reports of an affair. In response to the rumours, the DHS spokesperson told WSJ the department “doesn’t waste time with salacious, baseless gossip.”
Since beginning their roles within DHS, both Noem and Lewandowski have continued to cut employees and have fired or demoted roughly 80% of the career ICE field leadership that was previously in place.
Corey Lewandowski is chief advisor to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
Recently, they have been flying around the country in a luxury 737 MAX jet with a private cabin in the back, people familiar with the matter stated to the outlet.
While the DHS is currently leasing the plane, it is in the process of purchasing it for approximately $70 million. Before this, the department used other planes through the Coast Guard or other agencies for the secretary’s use.
Noem has been a core figure in the Trump administration’s dramatic immigration crackdown across the U.S.
The project has seen a large uptake in immigration and customs enforcement officers, who have then been stationed in various cities, detaining thousands of people and either eventually deporting them or throwing them in detention centers.