Kristi Noem has a bad leak in her boat and, no matter how hard she tries, she can’t seem to stop taking on water.
The former governor of South Dakota turned Trump Era Homeland Security Secretary (and infamous puppy killer) has been fighting an uphill battle against incessant leaks within her agency, with specific interest in disturbing immigration enforcement plans that have gone public without her permission.
Bloomberg Government now reports that Noem is attempting to combat her leak issue and root out the leaker (or leakers) via polygraph tests for all employees within her department.
According to Bloomberg, two people who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter confirmed that Noem ordered the lie detector tests to be administered throughout the agency and that workers would specifically be questioned about any unauthorized communications with reporters and nonprofits.
Unsurprisingly, Americans reacted rather swiftly to the news of Noem’s crackdown.
Rick Wilson, co-founder of the anti-Trump Republican group, The Lincoln Project, joked, “How Stasi of her,” referencing the secret police and state security service of East Germany from 1950 to 1990, formally known as the Ministry for State Security.
How Stasi of her.https://t.co/jv7x2BAPLB
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 19, 2025
National security attorney Mark S. Zaid said, “It starts! Anyone from @DHSgov who wants help with their polygraph examinations, just reach out. I have 25+ years experience representing both polygraphers & polygraphees. And if you want to be a #whistleblower, we’re here for you too!”
It starts! Anyone from @DHSgov who wants help with their polygraph examinations, just reach out. I have 25+ years experience representing both polygraphers & polygraphees.
And if you want to be a #whistleblower, we’re here for you too! @wbaidlawhttps://t.co/DmID3Nyljk
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) February 19, 2025
However, it was former DHS spokesperson Alex Howard who pointed out the most hilariously ironic part when he wrote, “Things are going so well for Kristi Noem at DHS that her memo going after leakers with a polygraph has leaked.”
Things are going so well for Kristi Noem at DHS that her memo going after leakers with a polygraph has leaked https://t.co/5wcfesk5eE
— alex (@ajhoward121) February 18, 2025
Good luck with that, Kristi.
Featured image via National Archives and Records Administration