Thompson EXPOSES Noem: “Your Corruption Makes America Less Safe — RESIGN NOW!”

WASHINGTON — A routine oversight hearing erupted into one of the most confrontational exchanges of the current Congress on Wednesday, as Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, delivered a sweeping and blistering critique of Homeland Security Secretary Christy Gnome, accusing her of dismantling core functions of the department, violating federal law and diverting taxpayer funds for personal benefit.

The hearing, held annually to examine national security threats and departmental operations, is typically marked by sober assessments from agency leaders across government. But on Wednesday, the atmosphere shifted from standard oversight to an unusually personal and direct confrontation, culminating in Thompson calling on Gnome to resign — or, as he put it, “do a real service to the country and just resign, if President Trump doesn’t fire you first.”

Thompson’s remarks reflected months of growing tension between House Democrats and the Trump administration over the direction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which under Gnome’s leadership has taken a far more expansive role in immigration enforcement while facing multiple allegations of legal and ethical breaches.

Throughout his nearly 10-minute statement, Thompson laid out a series of accusations that touched nearly every operational corner of the department. He cited alleged unlawful deportations carried out in defiance of federal court orders, the withholding of congressionally appropriated funds intended for counterterrorism and disaster preparedness programs, and what he described as “retaliatory firings” of internal whistleblowers.

“You cannot enforce the law by breaking the law,” Thompson said, arguing that Gnome’s approach had “made America less safe” while eroding long-standing norms designed to keep homeland security functions insulated from partisan interests.

He pointed to specific cases in which American citizens, including minors and even a child with cancer, were allegedly detained or deported after DHS officers misidentified them during immigration operations. He also cited incidents of federal agents allegedly using excessive force against U.S. citizens, including military veterans and clergy, during domestic enforcement actions.

“These are not isolated mistakes,” Thompson said. “These are patterns of behavior that undermine the department’s mission and violate the rights of the very people DHS is supposed to protect.”

Much of Thompson’s criticism centered on spending decisions he argued reflected personal or political priorities rather than national security needs. He accused Gnome of steering a $220 million contract to associates who filmed her during political travel and of authorizing the purchase of new private aircraft for DHS leadership while underfunding cybersecurity programs responsible for protecting hospitals, schools, and electrical infrastructure.

“Every penny you spend on yourself represents the blood, sweat, and tears of hardworking Americans,” Thompson said. “They expect their tax dollars to be spent on homeland security — not promoting you and your interests.”

The secretary, who sat impassively through most of the remarks, defended her record earlier in the hearing, arguing that DHS had strengthened border security, improved internal operations and taken steps to address long-standing vulnerabilities. She denied acting outside legal boundaries and insisted that DHS officers followed the law and adhered to identification requirements during enforcement operations.

But Thompson rejected those claims, accusing Gnome of repeatedly ignoring congressional oversight. He noted that she had failed to respond to more than a dozen formal letters from lawmakers and that DHS officials had appeared before the committee only three times since the beginning of the Trump administration — a dramatic drop from the 28 appearances logged during President Biden’s first year.

“Never in the history of this committee has a secretary of homeland security hidden from congressional oversight like you and your department have,” Thompson said. “This is not how a functioning democracy works.”

The hearing unfolded against a broader political backdrop, with Democrats increasingly alarmed by what they describe as a politicization of homeland security under President Trump. Earlier in the session, Thompson raised concerns about senior intelligence officials who had previously characterized January 6 defendants as “political prisoners” deserving pardon — remarks that he argued demonstrated a dangerous drift away from objective national security judgment.

Republicans on the committee largely defended Gnome’s leadership and accused Democrats of using the hearing to score political points. Several GOP members praised DHS for its aggressive immigration enforcement and criticized Democrats for opposing measures they argued were critical to public safety.

But the intensity and specificity of Thompson’s allegations — many referencing internal memos, court orders and documented incidents — ensured his remarks would reverberate well beyond the hearing room.

Whether the accusations will lead to formal investigations or efforts to censure the secretary remains unclear. But the hearing underscored a deepening institutional clash over how DHS operates in the Trump era and raised new questions about the department’s internal accountability mechanisms.

As the session concluded, Thompson reiterated the point that framed his entire argument: that homeland security depends not only on strong policies, but on lawful, transparent and nonpartisan leadership.

“You have put your own interests above the department,” he said. “And that makes the country less safe.”