As President Trump’s first year back in office comes to a close, two officials in particular are under intense scrutiny, raising questions about how long they will remain in their jobs: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel.
Trump has publicly expressed support for both officials, but Noem and Patel have each been the subject of speculation about whether they may step down or be pushed out in the new year.
Patel has been dogged by criticism over his use of government resources; his handling of high profile investigations, like the manhunt for the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk; and his use of social media.
Noem, meanwhile, has been at the forefront of Trump’s aggressive deportation efforts, but she has clashed with others in the administration, such as border czar Tom Homan, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“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,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement.
“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,” she added. “The President’s team will continue delivering in 2026.”
Noem has been the public face of the administration’s aggressive efforts to rapidly deport those in the country illegally and to ramp up immigration enforcement, delivering on a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda and one of his key campaign pledges.
While Noem has been at the forefront of the implementation and messaging around the deportation campaign, sources said deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller and Homan have been the driving forces behind the policies being put in place.
That has led to tensions at times, particularly between Noem and Homan. Sources close to the White House said the two officials do not get along particularly well, though it was unclear whether it would lead to the dismissal of either one.
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, particularly 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.
Jackson, the White House spokesperson, said in a statement that Noem and Homan “are on the same page when it comes to implementing the President’s agenda and the historically secure border proves that.”
“I spoke to Kristi Noem today. I spoke to Tom Homan today. They’re doing a great job,” Trump told reporters Monday.
Houser said there is tension at the DHS because under Noem’s leadership, “the bluster of social media” has become a key component of promoting policies, potentially clashing with those from a traditional law enforcement background.
“There’s been a devaluation of the expertise of leadership,” he said. “There’s a lot of 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. And how that all fits together is unclear.”
“What I hear 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.”
One GOP lawmaker suggested the risk of Noem getting fired could be overblown, noting rumors about numerous Cabinet officials being forced out have persisted for months.
“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,” the lawmaker said. “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 going to 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!”
“Are there knives in the White House? Of course, there are. Are there people out to sink other people? Of course there are,” the lawmaker 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.”
For Patel, the most recent controversy came in the wake of a shooting at Brown University that killed two students.
Patel initially posted the name of a suspect who had been taken into custody on social media, only for the man to be released shortly thereafter. The episode bore similarities to the aftermath of Kirk’s shooting, when Patel publicized the arrest of a subject who was also then later released.
Suspected Brown University shooter Claudio Neves Valente was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound last week, but as the search was ongoing, a previously taped podcast interview with Patel and his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins landed online. Patel had previously faced criticism for using the FBI jet to travel to see her, but host Katie Miller appeared to realize it was unfortunate timing, making a point of noting the segment was previously taped.
However, Wilkins then also posted photos of themselves attending the White House Christmas party, prompting skeptics to question the director’s attendance amid the search for the shooter.
“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. Jim Himes (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told The Hill.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has launched an investigation into Patel’s use of the FBI jet.
“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 said prior to the death of Neves Valente.
“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.” And Trump sought to shift blame away from the FBI and onto Brown University officials for the initial lack of progress in identifying a suspect.
But 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, however, still has the backing of many allies in Congress who share his skepticism of the bureau.
“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,” Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told The Hill.
“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.”