March 3, 2026 / 6:00 AM EST
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee today at 9 a.m., her first appearance before lawmakers since the department came under heavy scrutiny over federal immigration operations in Minneapolis. The hearing will be live-streamed.
Her testimony follows congressional calls for oversight after two deadly shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis: the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Good and the Jan. 24 killing of Alex Pretti. Lawmakers and advocates have pressed for answers about department policies and tactics used during the enforcement surge there. Noem drew criticism after publicly saying Pretti had approached agents with a gun; available video footage did not clearly show that, and some members of both parties criticized her statements and urged accountability.
Noem is set to appear before the House Judiciary Committee the following day for a separate oversight hearing.
The testimony comes amid a partial DHS shutdown that began Feb. 14, when lawmakers deadlocked over whether to attach immigration enforcement reforms to funding for the department. DHS remains the only federal department without full funding; Democrats and Republicans continue to disagree over proposed changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. The impasse has left many DHS personnel, who are performing essential duties during the lapse, missing paychecks.
Lawmakers have argued that recent geopolitical tensions, including the U.S. actions against Iran, make funding DHS more urgent. House GOP leaders say a prolonged lapse risks readiness and public safety; a recent Senate GOP effort to advance separate funding failed, with most Democrats opposing the measure because it lacked immigration reform provisions. The administration’s wider immigration enforcement campaign has continued to receive support after a multibillion-dollar infusion for ICE and CBP passed last summer, a move that has insulated some operations from the shutdown.
Noem’s appearance follows recent congressional testimony from leaders of ICE, CBP and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, who faced questioning last month about the Minneapolis operation and its consequences. Several lawmakers have said they wanted Noem to testify in person; some Republican and Democratic senators, including Judiciary Committee members such as Sen. Thom Tillis, signaled they may press her on her department’s decisions and her public comments.
The hearing is expected to focus on the Minneapolis enforcement actions, use-of-force policies, oversight of immigration agencies, and how the partial funding lapse is affecting DHS operations. The committee’s proceedings will be available via the Senate’s live-streaming channels.