The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a robust defense against a recent New York Magazine cover story that accuses Secretary Kristi Noem of being overshadowed by Corey Lewandowski in the agency’s leadership. The magazine’s report alleged that Lewandowski, rather than Noem, is the true decision-maker, prompting an immediate rebuttal from DHS. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, branded the cover story as ‘libelous’ and ‘lazy,’ accusing it of disseminating ‘anonymous gossip’ while ignoring the DHS’s exhaustive, on-the-record rebuttals.
McLaughlin’s remarks were particularly scathing, likening the magazine’s claims to ‘preteen rage-scrolling,’ and accusing it of ‘force-feeding the American public lies less digestible than Kibble dog food.’ She criticized the magazine for lacking journalistic integrity, especially in its portrayal of the DHS’s operations. Despite the DHS’s public defense, NY Magazine’s cover story highlighted the agency’s increased deportations as evidence of a ‘police state’ under Trump’s administration, which the DHS has been quick to deny. McLaughlin emphasized that Noem is the key decision-maker, with advisors like Lewandowski providing input but not directing the agency’s actions.
The cover story also noted that Noem, appointed by Trump in November 2024, faces significant security threats due to her stringent immigration policies targeting dangerous criminals. DHS sources confirmed that Noem regularly receives death threats, which they attribute to her and the Trump administration’s efforts to curb illegal border crossings and deport undocumented migrants. Despite these threats, the article claims that Noem lives in U.S. Coast Guard housing in Washington, D.C., a detail that the DHS has not contested. The magazine’s piece was defended by its spokesperson as ‘carefully reported and fact-checked’ and argued that it serves a public interest in government accountability.
McLaughlin’s defense of Noem’s leadership included a detailed account of the agency’s achievements under her tenure, such as reducing taxpayer waste by over $12 billion and facilitating the removal of 2 million illegal aliens, including terrorists, murderers, and child predators. She also highlighted the reformation of the Coast Guard and TSA, which she credited with enhancing national security. Despite the DHS’s strong stance, NY Magazine’s report has sparked a significant debate about the role of media in scrutinizing government decisions and the nature of leadership within high-profile agencies like the DHS.