Noem’s DHS leadership fuels Coast Guard tensions over mission priorities

Two officials and Coast Guard insiders say Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s first year at DHS has strained ties with the Coast Guard by shifting resources toward migrant deportations—reducing emphasis on search-and-rescue—and prompting clashes, including a May incident where adviser Corey Lewandowski berated flight crews for missing a personal item. Coast Guard aircraft have been increasingly used for deportations, fueling concerns about morale and a cultural shift away from traditional missions, even as DHS denies formal guidance changing priorities.