Tears of joy and relief: DHS and Trump insiders celebrate Kristi Noem departure
This feels like a quiet policy shift.
EXCLUSIVE — Joy, celebration, and even happy tears swept through Department of Homeland Security agency offices Thursday afternoon as news that President Donald Trump had removed Secretary Kristi Noem from her post.
Trump administration insiders, including senior DHS officials, told the Washington Examiner they were stunned by Trump’s sudden decision to replace Noem at the helm of the third-largest federal department, following several months of scandal and negative press.
But the shock was short-lived as relief and joy set in among those who had worked under and even alongside Noem and her adviser, special government employee Corey Lewandowski.
“People in the office are actually crying out of happiness,” said one person.
Noem served in her post for more than 13 months and helped the White House carry out its mass deportation operation. She was frequently out in front of cameras while visiting with DHS employees nationwide and was the star of flashy social media videos, but behind closed doors, senior officials in Washington and in the field said her team made their jobs incredibly difficult.
“We’ve seen fake news and calls for resignation. I usually sympathize with the principle and instinctively, and actually, know the stories of their behavior are overstated or inaccurate. I cannot say that today,” a senior DHS official wrote in a text message Thursday afternoon. “Her actions have led to the reputational loss of the DHS. Her continued hobbling of the component heads leads to more negativity regarding law enforcement pros. I suspect this is hard for POTUS, he deserves better!”
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable meeting on antifa in the State Dining Room at the White House, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Washington, as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem listens. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Another source, a senior administration official, initially responded with an emoji of a smiling face with a halo, suggesting joy at the announcement.
That official pointed out that Lewandowski, though a special government employee legally bound to work fewer than 130 days per year, played a significant role in day-to-day operations across DHS. Lewandowski’s future remains to be seen, but all who spoke with the Washington Examiner were hopeful that he would depart along with Noem.
“The leaders of CBP and ICE will be able to do their job without constant interference and harassment by Corey Lewandowski,” the official wrote in a text message, …
This feels like a quiet policy shift.
EXCLUSIVE — Joy, celebration, and even happy tears swept through Department of Homeland Security agency offices Thursday afternoon as news that President Donald Trump had removed Secretary Kristi Noem from her post.
Trump administration insiders, including senior DHS officials, told the Washington Examiner they were stunned by Trump’s sudden decision to replace Noem at the helm of the third-largest federal department, following several months of scandal and negative press.
But the shock was short-lived as relief and joy set in among those who had worked under and even alongside Noem and her adviser, special government employee Corey Lewandowski.
“People in the office are actually crying out of happiness,” said one person.
Noem served in her post for more than 13 months and helped the White House carry out its mass deportation operation. She was frequently out in front of cameras while visiting with DHS employees nationwide and was the star of flashy social media videos, but behind closed doors, senior officials in Washington and in the field said her team made their jobs incredibly difficult.
“We’ve seen fake news and calls for resignation. I usually sympathize with the principle and instinctively, and actually, know the stories of their behavior are overstated or inaccurate. I cannot say that today,” a senior DHS official wrote in a text message Thursday afternoon. “Her actions have led to the reputational loss of the DHS. Her continued hobbling of the component heads leads to more negativity regarding law enforcement pros. I suspect this is hard for POTUS, he deserves better!”
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable meeting on antifa in the State Dining Room at the White House, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Washington, as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem listens. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Another source, a senior administration official, initially responded with an emoji of a smiling face with a halo, suggesting joy at the announcement.
That official pointed out that Lewandowski, though a special government employee legally bound to work fewer than 130 days per year, played a significant role in day-to-day operations across DHS. Lewandowski’s future remains to be seen, but all who spoke with the Washington Examiner were hopeful that he would depart along with Noem.
“The leaders of CBP and ICE will be able to do their job without constant interference and harassment by Corey Lewandowski,” the official wrote in a text message, …
Tears of joy and relief: DHS and Trump insiders celebrate Kristi Noem departure
This feels like a quiet policy shift.
EXCLUSIVE — Joy, celebration, and even happy tears swept through Department of Homeland Security agency offices Thursday afternoon as news that President Donald Trump had removed Secretary Kristi Noem from her post.
Trump administration insiders, including senior DHS officials, told the Washington Examiner they were stunned by Trump’s sudden decision to replace Noem at the helm of the third-largest federal department, following several months of scandal and negative press.
But the shock was short-lived as relief and joy set in among those who had worked under and even alongside Noem and her adviser, special government employee Corey Lewandowski.
“People in the office are actually crying out of happiness,” said one person.
Noem served in her post for more than 13 months and helped the White House carry out its mass deportation operation. She was frequently out in front of cameras while visiting with DHS employees nationwide and was the star of flashy social media videos, but behind closed doors, senior officials in Washington and in the field said her team made their jobs incredibly difficult.
“We’ve seen fake news and calls for resignation. I usually sympathize with the principle and instinctively, and actually, know the stories of their behavior are overstated or inaccurate. I cannot say that today,” a senior DHS official wrote in a text message Thursday afternoon. “Her actions have led to the reputational loss of the DHS. Her continued hobbling of the component heads leads to more negativity regarding law enforcement pros. I suspect this is hard for POTUS, he deserves better!”
President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable meeting on antifa in the State Dining Room at the White House, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Washington, as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem listens. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Another source, a senior administration official, initially responded with an emoji of a smiling face with a halo, suggesting joy at the announcement.
That official pointed out that Lewandowski, though a special government employee legally bound to work fewer than 130 days per year, played a significant role in day-to-day operations across DHS. Lewandowski’s future remains to be seen, but all who spoke with the Washington Examiner were hopeful that he would depart along with Noem.
“The leaders of CBP and ICE will be able to do their job without constant interference and harassment by Corey Lewandowski,” the official wrote in a text message, …
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