Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman on Tuesday publicly urged President Donald Trump to immediately dismiss Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, citing her handling of a series of fatal shootings involving federal officers in Minneapolis that have intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement operations and departmental leadership.
.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump: I make a direct appeal to immediately fire @Sec_Noem.
Americans have died.
She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy.
DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary.
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) January 27, 2026
The call follows two high-profile incidents this month in Minneapolis in which federal agents fatally shot U.S. citizens. On January 7, 37-year-old Renee Good was killed by an ICE officer during protests tied to immigration enforcement operations. More recently, on January 24—described as Saturday in some reports—Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent amid ongoing enforcement actions and demonstrations. The shootings have sparked widespread protests, bipartisan criticism, and mounting questions about the Department of Homeland Security’s response.
Fetterman argued that Noem’s oversight has undermined the department’s fundamental purpose, pointing to the DHS mission statement, which reads: “With honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values.” He cited the statement as evidence that the department’s leadership has strayed from its core responsibilities, according to reports.
The senator also referenced former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who served under President Joe Biden from February 2021 until January 2025. Fetterman described Mayorkas as “grossly incompetent,” particularly on border management. Mayorkas was impeached by the House in February 2024 on charges tied to southern border policies, though the Senate dismissed the articles in April 2024.
Fetterman’s remarks expanded on comments he made a day earlier, condemning the federal operations in Minneapolis and calling for their termination. He argued that meaningful reform would require targeted changes rather than broad political tactics such as a government shutdown. According to Fetterman, a shutdown would not meaningfully reduce funding for immigration enforcement agencies because of existing appropriations.
He specifically cited $17 billion in funding DHS received through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while acknowledging reports that supplemental funding for ICE under the law may be significantly higher. Fetterman said he opposed the legislation and rejected calls to defund or abolish ICE.
“I reject the calls to defund or abolish ICE. I strongly disagree with many strategies and practices ICE deployed in Minneapolis, and believe that must change,” he stated. “I want a conversation on the DHS appropriations bill and support stripping it from the minibus.”
As investigations into the Minneapolis shootings continue, the incidents have intensified debates over immigration enforcement tactics under the current administration, with some Democrats now openly calling for Noem’s resignation or impeachment amid growing political and public pressure on the Department of Homeland Security.
