A heated exchange unfolded during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing when North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis sharply criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. During a lengthy speech, Tillis accused Noem of poor leadership, mishandling key issues within the Department of Homeland Security, and failing to take responsibility for controversial incidents. His remarks drew attention from lawmakers and the audience in attendance.
Senator Thom Tillis Delivers Strong Criticism of Kristi Noem
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) delivered a nearly 10-minute speech criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Tillis began by telling Noem he was not looking for a response, describing his remarks as a performance evaluation of her leadership.
“I’m giving you a performance evaluation here — I’m not looking for a response,” Tillis said, adding that he had been “disappointed time after time.”
The senator, who plans to retire at the end of his current term next year, raised several concerns about how Noem has handled her responsibilities at the Department of Homeland Security.
Concerns Over Immigration Enforcement
One of Tillis’s main criticisms focused on immigration enforcement practices under Noem’s leadership.
He argued that the department has been focusing too heavily on the number of arrests or deportations instead of ensuring enforcement actions are carried out correctly.
According to Tillis, prioritizing large numbers of arrests could lead to mistakes, including detaining people who are actually U.S. citizens.
“We just want numbers,” Tillis said. “Quality matters, not quantity.”
He described the current approach as a “disaster” and said the policy risks undermining public trust.
Criticism Over Minnesota Shooting Cases
Tillis also brought up the deaths of two Minnesotans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which he said deserved greater transparency and investigation.
The senator questioned why officials could not simply acknowledge potential mistakes if they occurred.
He argued that incidents involving law enforcement shootings should always follow a clear investigative process.
Tillis suggested that multiple agencies should be involved in reviewing such cases and called for further scrutiny, including a possible civil rights investigation.
Questions About FEMA Disaster Funding
Another major issue raised by Tillis involved Federal Emergency Management Agency funding.
He accused Noem of slowing down emergency funding by requiring her approval for expenditures over $100,000.
According to Tillis, the policy has delayed reimbursements for disaster relief projects, particularly affecting communities in North Carolina.
He presented a chart during the hearing showing a sharp decline in FEMA reimbursements and said the delays could violate federal law.
Tillis warned that he would request detailed records regarding FEMA funding decisions.
Allegations of Blocking Oversight Investigations
Tillis also accused Noem of preventing oversight within the Department of Homeland Security.
He said the Office of Inspector General had documented several cases in which investigators were allegedly misled or blocked from conducting inquiries.
According to Tillis, such actions represent a serious leadership failure.
He announced he would place a hold on certain Department of Homeland Security nominations until his concerns are addressed.
During this portion of his remarks, applause broke out in the hearing room, though Tillis quickly asked the audience to stop.
Criticism of Story in Noem’s Book
Toward the end of his remarks, Tillis referenced a controversial story from Noem’s book in which she described killing one of her dogs.
He criticized the decision, saying it showed poor judgment.
Tillis said the situation demonstrated the type of impulsive decisions that he believes reflect broader leadership issues.
He argued that leaders must show careful judgment and accountability, particularly when overseeing major government agencies.
Limited Response From Noem
During Tillis’s lengthy remarks, Noem spoke only briefly.
Her sole response during the exchange was confirming that border adviser Tom Homan reports directly to President Donald Trump.
Otherwise, she did not respond to the criticisms raised during the hearing.
