Kristi Noem is back in the spotlight afterreports that the former Department of Homeland Security secretary is still living in a taxpayer-funded Coast Guard propertyin the US capital, despite leaving her role in March 2026, according to US lawmakers and officials cited in correspondence with DHS leadership.
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia publicly made the claims recently, questioning whether Kristi Noem is still living in a government-owned waterfront home at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC, after leaving her role as DHS secretary, and whether she has permission to stay there.
The issue has now reached current DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who has been asked to explain why the arrangement is still in place.
Noem left the Department of Homeland Security earlier in 2026 and took on a new role as a special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. Since then, her continued use of government housing has sparked debate over how public property is used, who is allowed to live in it, and whether proper oversight is being followed.
According toThe Independent, there are claims that Kristi Noem is still living in a Coast Guard-owned home even though she is no longer serving as DHS secretary. Representative Robert Garcia says she has been staying there since August 2025, which was months before she officially left the department.
In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin on 1 May, Garcia wrote, 'Kristi Noem got fired in March, and she is still living rent-free in a government home that belongs to the Coast Guard. The Trump Administration can't explain why, nor do they seem to care.'
The home is located inside Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC, a secure military base. It has previously been used by senior Coast Guard leaders, including former commandant Linda Fagan. Garcia says Fagan was removed from her role in January 2025 and was later told to leave the home shortly after, even though she had been given a short extension to find somewhere else to live.
Garcia is now asking the Department of Homeland Security to provide documents explaining why Noem is still allowed to remain on the property. He says the situation raises questions about how government housing is being managed and whether taxpayer-funded property is being used properly.
The housing issue has deepened after contrasting accounts emerged over whether rent is being paid. During earlier testimony to Congress, Noem stated that she does contribute financially for her stay at the facility.
'I rent that facility. I rent where I stay, and pay personal dollars to do that,' she said, adding that she was not occupying the commandant's residence specifically but another Coast Guard property within the base.
Source: International Business Times UK
