By Craig Martel | PoliticsAreLocal.com | September 2025
In a government built on loyalty tests and grievance politics, competence becomes collateral damage. And nowhere is that more evident than inside Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, where Secretary Kristi Noem, mocked by detractors as “ICE Barbie”, has turned disaster response into a personal power trip.
According to recent reporting by Brancolini and The Daily Beast, Noem’s micromanagement, tantrums, and loyalty-first decision-making have plunged DHS into operational chaos. Contracts are lapsing. Aid is delayed. Staff are demoralized. And the American public is paying the price.
This isn’t just a personnel problem. It’s a governance crisis. And if we don’t confront it now, we risk normalizing a leadership model built on spectacle, sabotage, and unchecked ego.
What Happened: The Tantrum Heard Across DHS
In June 2025, Noem announced that she would personally sign off on all DHS payments exceeding $100,000, a dramatic shift from the previous threshold of $25 million. The result? A bureaucratic bottleneck that stalled disaster aid, delayed contracts, and triggered internal panic.
By July, the consequences were clear:
• Texas flood victims waited four days for crucial aid while Noem delayed approval.
• Urban Search and Rescue crews were grounded, unable to deploy.
• FEMA’s call center contract expired, leaving thousands of disaster-assistance requests unanswered.
• TSA’s airport-screening equipment contract lapsed, compromising security.
• ICE’s polygraph testing contract expired, halting law enforcement hiring.
When the press exposed the chaos, Noem reportedly screamed at DHS officials, dropped multiple f-bombs, and accused staff of “lining their pockets.” Her de facto chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Trump adviser and rumored romantic partner, joined the tirade, despite holding no formal authority.
This wasn’t a policy dispute. It was a tantrum. And it revealed a leadership style rooted in control, not competence.
Who’s Really Running DHS?
Kristi Noem may hold the title, but insiders say Corey Lewandowski is calling the shots. According to New York Magazine, Lewandowski operates as Noem’s “special government employee”, a vague designation that allows him to influence policy without formal oversight.
Staff describe a toxic environment where decisions are made based on loyalty, not expertise. One DHS official told reporters, “It’s like high school. You’re either in the clique or you’re out.”
Lewandowski has a history of controversy, including allegations of foreign influence and abusive behavior. His presence inside DHS raises serious questions about ethics, oversight, and national security.
The Consequences for Everyday Americans
This isn’t just bureaucratic drama. It’s a breakdown of public service. And it affects real people in real ways:
1. Delayed Disaster Aid
• Flood victims in Texas waited days for help.
• Search and rescue teams were sidelined.
• FEMA’s call center went dark.
2. Compromised Security
• TSA’s screening equipment contract expired.
• Airport security was weakened.
• Immigration enforcement reports went unfiled.
3. Stalled Hiring
• ICE couldn’t process polygraph tests.
• Law enforcement hiring froze.
• Operational readiness declined.
4. Demoralized Staff
• DHS officials were berated and micromanaged.
• Morale plummeted.
• Institutional knowledge was sidelined.
This isn’t just mismanagement, it’s sabotage. And it’s happening under the guise of “draining the swamp.”
The Bigger Pattern: Loyalty Over Competence
Noem’s behavior isn’t an anomaly. It’s part of a broader trend inside Trump’s cabinet:
• Appointments based on loyalty: From Lewandowski to Stephen Miller, Trump’s inner circle is stacked with loyalists, not experts.
• Micromanagement as control: Cabinet secretaries are expected to defer to Trump’s whims or face public humiliation.
• Tantrum diplomacy: Screaming matches, f-bombs, and public shaming are normalized.
This isn’t governance. It’s grievance theater. And it’s eroding the very institutions meant to protect us.
What This Means for Democracy
When leadership becomes performative, democracy becomes fragile. Here’s what we risk:
1. Loss of Institutional Trust
• Agencies like DHS, FEMA, and TSA lose credibility.
• Public confidence erodes.
• Conspiracy theories fill the vacuum.
2. Erosion of Oversight
• Informal power brokers like Lewandowski operate without accountability.
• Ethics rules are ignored.
• Congressional oversight becomes performative.
3. Normalization of Chaos
• Tantrums replace policy debates.
• Loyalty tests replace qualifications.
• Spectacle replaces service.
This isn’t just bad leadership, it’s authoritarian drift. And unless we name it, challenge it, and build alternatives, we risk normalizing it.
My Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Tantrum Governance Become the Norm
Every time a contract lapses…
Every time disaster aid is delayed…
Every time a tantrum replaces a policy…
We lose something vital, not just efficiency, but integrity.
But here’s the truth authoritarian drift can’t erase:
Local voices still matter.
Civic platforms still have power.
And satire still stings.
So, let’s get loud. Let’s get smart. Let’s build the tools, tell the truth, and refuse to play dumb.
Because when leadership becomes a tantrum, resistance becomes revolutionary.