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dalton99a

(93,111 posts) Fri Feb 13, 2026, 05:55 AM Friday

A pilot fired over Kristi Noem's missing blanket and the constant chaos inside DHS

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/a-pilot-fired-over-kristi-noem-s-missing-blanket-and-the-constant-chaos-inside-dhs/ar-AA1WfjbG

A pilot fired over Kristi Noem’s missing blanket and the constant chaos inside DHS
Story by Michelle Hackman, Josh Dawsey, Tarini Parti

Kristi Noem knew she needed a reset.

It was two days after federal agents had shot and killed Alex Pretti, and Noem was facing fire from all sides. Even some inside the administration were pushing President Trump to remove her from her position for her handling of the chaotic immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis and comments she’d made saying Pretti committed an act of domestic terrorism.

So Noem’s top adviser, Corey Lewandowski, messaged Trump’s pollster with a request: They needed to cut an ad to help her, according to two people familiar with the episode. The pollster, Tony Fabrizio, who worked on Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, ignored the entreaty, the people said.

Throughout her tenure as secretary of Homeland Security, a sprawling agency charged with carrying out Trump’s central campaign promise of a mass deportation, Noem has attempted to burnish her personal stardom at every turn. With Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager, at her side, she has staged a headline grabbing immigration crackdown while sidelining rivals and dissenters.

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A pilot fired over Kristi Noem's missing blanket and the constant chaos inside DHS (Original Post) dalton99a Friday OP

Kristie Noem has a blankee........ riversedge Friday #1

"They eventually reinstated the pilot because no one else was available to fly them home." tanyev Friday #2

riversedge

(80,205 posts)

1. Kristie Noem has a blankee........

Reply to dalton99a (Original post)

Fri Feb 13, 2026, 07:54 AM

Friday

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/a-pilot-fired-over-kristi-noem-s-missing-blanket-and-the-constant-chaos-inside-dhs/ar-AA1WfjbG

A pilot fired over Kristi Noem’s missing blanket and the constant chaos inside DHS
Story by Michelle Hackman, Josh Dawsey, Tarini Parti

......................
A blanket and a badge

Within DHS, Noem and Lewandowski have cut employees or put them on administrative leave. The pair have fired or demoted roughly 80% of the career ICE field leadership that was in place when they started.

In the blanket incident, Noem had to switch planes after a maintenance issue was discovered, but her blanket wasn’t moved to the second plane, according to the people familiar with the incident. The Coast Guard pilot was initially fired and told to take a commercial flight home when they reached their destination. They eventually reinstated the pilot because no one else was available to fly them home.

The DHS spokeswoman didn’t address the episode but said the secretary has “made personnel decisions to deliver excellence.”

tanyev

(48,954 posts)

2. "They eventually reinstated the pilot because no one else was available to fly them home."

Reply to riversedge (Reply #1)

Fri Feb 13, 2026, 08:29 AM

Friday

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