March 4, 2026 / CBS News
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will testify Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee, the second day of her appearances on Capitol Hill after a contentious Senate hearing Tuesday that drew criticism from Democrats and two Republicans.
Much of the Department of Homeland Security remains effectively shut down amid a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over how to reform immigration agencies. The funding lapse began Feb. 14. DHS oversees ICE, CBP, FEMA, the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard and other components. Many workers who continue to perform their jobs during the partial shutdown have begun missing paychecks. House leaders plan a vote later this week on a measure to fund the department, but Democrats have shown little willingness to change their position; a similar effort failed in the Senate last week.
The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations have remained funded despite the DHS lapse because ICE and CBP received an influx of funds under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year. Noem has blamed Senate Democrats for holding the department “hostage,” calling continued impasse “reckless” and “unnecessary” and saying it harms DHS employees and their families.
At Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Noem faced intense questioning over her handling of recent events in Minneapolis, including the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents, and her comments linking those deaths to domestic terrorism. Democrats pressed her repeatedly for apologies she declined to give, though she expressed condolences and said she would “continue everyday to get up and to work hard to give everybody factual information.”
Two Republican senators also criticized Noem. Sen. John Kennedy questioned the decision to spend millions on television advertisements that prominently feature the DHS secretary, while Sen. Thom Tillis delivered a blistering “performance evaluation,” calling leadership under Noem a “disaster.” Tillis threatened to block Trump administration nominees and stall Senate business until Noem answers his questions and cooperates with investigations.
The administration has taken steps to ease tensions in Minneapolis since the January surge of agents and began bringing the ICE surge to an end last month. As Noem testifies before the Judiciary Committee at 10 a.m., Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison will appear at 9 a.m. before the House Oversight Committee for a separate hearing concerning Minnesota matters, including alleged fraud and the state response to the surge.