By Kenneth Tiven
“Define habeas corpus in American law.” That was Senator Maggie Hassan’s opening question to Kristi Noem, the head of the Department of Homeland Security and a former farm girl from South Dakota, now tasked with overseeing one of the most powerful bureaucracies in the United States.
Why the question matters: Habeas corpus is central to due process—a principle the Trump administration has come under fire for undermining, especially with its pledge to deport an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, according to an immigration NGO.
The budget season brought every cabinet secretary to Capitol Hill, nominally to explain departmental finances. But in practice, these sessions laid bare ideological battles and competence gaps within the Trump administration. For Democrats, the hearings were about accountability; for Republicans, a chance to showcase loyalty to Trump.
Noem, prepped, but unsteady, responded: “Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country.”
Senator Hassan, a lawyer and former governor, corrected her firmly: “Habeas corpus is the legal principle that requires the government to publicly justify detaining someone. Without it, the state could jail citizens indefinitely without cause. It is what separates a free society from a police state.”
Noem, echoing White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller’s interpretations, then chose volume over veracity—talking over further questions and sidestepping corrections. Her budget request, notably, included $50 million for a private jet, so she wouldn’t have to fly commercial while inspecting agency offices.
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut pressed Noem about a 20 percent staff cut at FEMA and the agency’s lack of senior leadership. Again, Noem blamed the Biden administration—though FEMA’s current structure and cuts reflect Trump-era policy.
In a revealing moment of Republican discontent, Senator Josh Hawley begged for FEMA help in Missouri following a devastating tornado. But under Trump’s belief that disasters are a state issue, federal aid has been slow or non-existent.
Meanwhile, the House passed a controversial tax and spending bill by a single vote. Trump had twisted Republican arms, demanding steeper tax cuts for the wealthy. The Congressional Budget Office confirmed the bill would reduce income for the poorest Americans while enriching the top 10 percent.
“This bill is a scam—a tax scam designed to steal from you and gift it to Trump’s billionaire friends,” said Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts.
At the education hearings, Secretary Linda McMahon—better known for her past in pro wrestling with Trump—stood by a 15 percent slash in federal education funding. She argued this was about ending “federal overreach” and returning control to states and parents.
But bipartisan frustration was evident. Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro scolded McMahon: “By recklessly incapacitating your department, you’re usurping Congress’s authority. The current budget is the law of the land.”
More than one Republican also questioned her logic, particularly a $1.6 billion cut to college access programmes for poor and minority students. McMahon insisted these changes would cut “bureaucracy,” though her department had already lost more than half its staff.
She claimed the remaining workforce “hasn’t missed a beat.” Yet under questioning from Representative Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, McMahon admitted she had never met students from Parkland, Uvalde, or other school shooting survivors. “When will you do that?” Dean asked. “I have a lot of responsibilities,” McMahon replied.
—The writer has worked in senior positions at The Washington Post, NBC, ABC and CNN and also consults for several Indian channels
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