Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem left her residence in Washington’s Navy Yard for housing reserved for the Coast Guard commandant, The Washington Post reported Friday. DHS justified the move for Noem’s safety as former defense officials worried about the precedent the secretary was setting.
Nearly four months after a British tabloid published photos of Noem’s condominium building, DHS has confirmed to the Post that the secretary relocated to Quarters 1, the Coast Guard commandant residence at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. According to the paper, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed Noem’s move, adding that she was “doxxed.”
The commandant’s home has been vacant since Coast Guard Adm. Linda Fagan was fired in January, according to the Post.
Doxxing refers to obtaining a person’s sensitive information and publishing it publicly for malicious purposes, according to a DHS flyer. That information can include a person’s full name, home address or social security number. Not everything released is obtained illegally. It can sometimes be found in court and property records, voter registration lists and public conferences.
McLaughlin told The Washington Post in an email that she found it “sad” for the reporter to “suggest a rancher should have to pay a second rent because of a reporter’s irresponsible decisions to dox where she lives.” Her note confirmed Noem doesn’t pay rent at the current apartment.
Noem still paid for rent at her former Navy Yard apartment, McLaughlin told the Post. In July, the Daily Mail first reported she moved to Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.
On X, McLaughlin called the story “sick” and said Noem faced daily death threats from people, including those DHS targets.
“Due to the increased threats and safety concerns, she has been forced to temporarily stay in secure military housing,” she wrote. “As the DHS officers Secretary Noem leads face a 1000% increase in assaults against them, the Washington Post chooses to again publish where she lives. A revealing lack of basic humanity for another person’s safety.”
Noem’s former living arrangements revealed by tabloid
British tabloid Daily Mail published a report, claiming to have learned about Noem’s living arrangements in the nation’s capital. Photos accompanied the report, which the newspaper said showed special government employee Corey Lewandowski frequently leaving Noem’s residence.
The tabloid reported Lewandowski sought the chief of staff position, but Trump’s advisors denied him the job, citing optics. Noem doesn’t have a chief of staff as of press time.
The paper alleged the pair were romantically involved. Residents, whom the Mail didn’t name, told the tabloid the duo were together.
The Daily Mail added that Lewandowski lives nearby and was often spotted leaving Noem’s building several times.
McLaughlin told the Post that Noem’s security detail had to be increased since the Daily Mail published the story.
Departure of standard practice
It’s not standard practice for a cabinet secretary to receive free boarding in military housing reserved for top generals and admirals, the paper wrote.
Current and retired Coast Guard officials were concerned that others could surmise Noem was exploiting perks of her position as secretary and could displace other senior military officials who have limited housing, according to the Post.
“Most likely, if a Cabinet secretary takes a government house, there’s a chain reaction and people very senior are getting displaced,” former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson told the Post in an email. He served his role in President Barack Obama’s second presidential term.
The Washington Post reported that there have been exceptions about DHS leadership living on military bases, a former senior DHS official told the paper. Former Deputy Secretary John Tien, who served in the position from 2021 to 2023, lived at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling as a retired U.S. Army colonel and paid $3,000 a month for a four-bedroom condo.
Retired Coast Guard Adm. Paul Zukunft served as commandant during Trump’s first term. He told The Washington Post there are typically four homes for the military’s top admirals at Anacostia-Bolling. Noem residing there could displace another leader, he said.
“Quarters 1 has been used exclusively by the current serving commandant since we entered into an agreement for this quarters circa 2010,” he wrote to the publication.
Public access to Joint Base
Visiting Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling isn’t an easy task. The base screens every visitor and requires they present a REAL ID-compliant document to enter, according to the base’s visitor information page.
A security guard conducts physical screenings of the ID cards and requires everyone to roll windows down, remove eye coverings and lower masks.
“All personnel entering a federal installation are subject to a vehicle inspection,” according to the webpage. “Additionally, the following items are not permitted to bring onto the installation: illegal materials (i.e. drugs, drug paraphernalia, etc.), explosives, weapons and unauthorized ammunition.”
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Author: Krystal Nurse
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