According to the Wall Street Journal on 13/2, a US Coast Guard pilot faced dismissal after forgetting to transfer a customary blanket belonging to US Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem to a replacement aircraft. The incident occurred during a business trip when Secretary Noem's usual plane required maintenance, necessitating a change of aircraft.
Secretary Noem's chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski, a special government employee without salary, promptly fired the pilot for this oversight. Lewandowski reportedly demanded the pilot purchase a commercial airline ticket home upon arrival.
However, Lewandowski quickly had to reinstate the pilot. A replacement could not be found to operate the aircraft, leaving no alternative but to rehire the original pilot.
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US Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem. *Photo: X/@Sec_Noem*
US media reports did not specify the exact time or location of the incident. A DHS spokesperson did not deny the reports, stating only that Secretary Noem makes "personnel decisions aimed at excellence."
Further scrutiny surrounds Lewandowski's employment. In his role as a special government employee, he is permitted to work a maximum of 130 days per year. However, he has reportedly extended this period by avoiding official record-keeping during visits to headquarters, including by riding in Secretary Noem's motorcade.
Beyond the blanket incident, US media reports also highlighted Secretary Noem's political focus. Since taking office in 1/2025, she has closely monitored her popularity compared to other officials in the Trump administration, especially against "border czar" Tom Homan.
This rivalry is particularly notable given Noem's official oversight of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as the head of the Department of Homeland Security. However, President Donald Trump appointed Homan as the person in charge of this area, granting him direct reporting authority to the President.
By Ngoc Anh (According to People, NY Post, WSJ)
