Kristi Noem faces scrutiny for living in a rent-free house despite being fired from her post.
Kristi Noem Owes Reported $2 Million in Debt and Is Still Living in a Taxpayer-Funded Home for Free and Nobody Can Explain Why
Kristi Noem was removed from her role by President Donald Trump in March 2026, following growing criticism over her handling of the Department of Homeland Security.
Now, it's been around two months since her termination, and Noem still seems to be living in a government-funded home in Washington, D.C.
Democratic lawmakers are now raising questions about Noem’s situation.
Reports that she's still staying at a waterfront U.S. Coast Guard residence typically reserved for senior officials have raised questions among lawmakers about whether taxpayer-funded resources were used improperly.
Lawmakers Question Kristi Noem’s Living Arrangements
Mike Levin tweets about Kristi Noem’s living stance
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia is charging Kristi Noem's replacement, Markwayne Mullin, with all the questions about her living arrangements.
On May 1, Garcia sent a letter to Mullin demanding answers as to why the former Homeland Security was still living in a taxpayer-funded Coast Guard home.
“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.” Garcia said in a statement accompanying the letter.
Alongside Garcia, even Representative Mike Levin wrote on X on Saturday, “Can someone please explain to me why Kristi Noem is still living on the taxpayers’ dime in a Coast Guard house on a D.C. military base? She was fired TWO MONTHS ago. She better start packing her bags.”
Prior to Noem, the property at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling was occupied by former Coast Guard commandant Linda Fagan.
She was removed just a day after Trump’s inauguration in January 2025. And while she was residing in the historic Quarters 1 residence, Fagan was reportedly given just three hours to leave.
Kristi Noem’s $2 Million Debt Sparks Speculation
The question about Kristi Noem's residency comes in the wake of the former Homeland Security secretary and her husband, Bryon Noem, racking up millions of dollars in debt.
According to The NY Post reports, the couple listed debts between $2.6 million and $3.25 million in a federal financial disclosure filed by Noem.
The filing showed the debts date back to 2020, prior to the duo rising to national attention. So far, it has been revealed that most of the debt reportedly came from six separate loans.
Five of those loans were linked to Noem’s husband's insurance and car wash businesses between 2015 and 2022.
The remaining loan was a joint mortgage taken out in 2020 for the couple’s home, in Castlewood, South Dakota, valued between $100,000 and $250,000.
Despite owning a personal home, Noem is now being scrutinized for residing in a rent-free Coast Guard house in Washington, especially since her tenure has ended.