Kristi Noem was fired as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in March 2026. Two months later, she is still living in a taxpayer-funded U.S. Coast Guard home in Washington, D.C.

The property is meant for the Coast Guard's commandant — the military's top officer in that branch. The current commandant, Admiral Kevin Lunday, is reportedly ready to move in but cannot, because Noem has not vacated. Lunday is currently living in an adjacent home meant for the vice commandant.

The contrast is hard to ignore. When the previous commandant, Admiral Linda Fagan, was fired by President Trump in January 2025, she was given just three hours to leave the same property — despite having a waiver that would have allowed her to stay longer.

Noem has said she pays rent for the home. But the arrangement still raises serious questions about equal treatment and the use of government resources for someone who no longer holds a government position.

Democratic Representative Robert Garcia sent a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin on May 1, demanding answers about why Noem remains in the home and how DHS is managing its resources.

Sign this petition to demand that DHS and Congress immediately ensure the Coast Guard commandant's residence is returned to its rightful occupant — and that the rules apply equally to everyone, regardless of who they are.

Photo: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters