Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was hospitalized in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday after suffering an allergic reaction, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS assistant secretary, told The Independent that Noem was taken to the hospital “out of extreme caution” but is “awake and getting better.” Sources told CNN that Noem has remained alert and in communication with her security team.
CNN also reported that several Secret Service agents were stationed outside the emergency room where Secretary Noem was being treated, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. Noem, the former South Dakota governor, was appointed Homeland Security Secretary by President Donald Trump following his election and has since led key initiatives, including a national immigration crackdown and plans to overhaul emergency response protocols.
Just one day before her hospitalization, Noem visited Fort Detrick, an Army base in Maryland currently under FBI investigation for a biohazard incident. She was accompanied by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously briefed the Senate about two contractors involved in the lab closure at the base. The timing of her visit has raised questions, although there is no confirmed connection between the incident and her reaction.
Last week, Noem faced public scrutiny following ICE raids in Los Angeles that led to widespread protests among immigrant communities. At a press conference in California, she defended the agency’s actions and reaffirmed her commitment to enforcing immigration laws. Noem’s condition remains stable as more details are expected from DHS in the coming days.