DHS Uproar After CBP Chief’s $2.1M Office Overhaul; Noem Blocks $137K Line Item

Department of Homeland Security staff pushed back after Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott submitted a $2.1 million plan to upgrade his office and adjacent workspaces — a proposal that has reignited scrutiny of Secretary Kristi Noem’s spending decisions.

What Was Proposed

Scott began assembling the renovation package in September. A November memo approved by DHS acting chief financial officer Holly Mehringer allocated a total of $2,064,765 for the project, with specific line items that included:

Noem decided against Scott's $137,000 request, but is going ahead with the other $1.9 million of the project. / Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images

• $137,000 earmarked for improvements to Scott’s personal office, including $33,000 for "window treatments, millwork, and equipment," which the memo said were needed because "the space finishes are damaged, peeling, and antiquated."
• $299,850 budgeted for furniture and $86,733 for related furniture services.
• Substantial sums designated for IT upgrades and what the documents describe as mold remediation in parts of the workspace.

Internal Reaction

The office-focused items prompted disbelief among some DHS employees. One officer told Politico,

"Don’t waste our time with silly things like this when we have other priorities we want to focus on. The last thing that should be on his mind is making your office fancier."

Another official told the outlet, "We were like, what? This seems totally insane." Reports also say some staff have had difficulty reaching Secretary Noem directly to discuss department plans.

The DHS secretary recently treated the office to two luxury jets for a slick $172 million. / Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images

Noem’s Decision And Department Response

In December, Secretary Noem chose to block the $137,000 line specifically focused on Scott’s private office, while approving roughly $1.9 million of the larger renovation plan. A DHS spokesperson told Politico:

"Secretary Noem personally reviews and approves any contract above $100,000 to ensure every penny is spent to advance DHS’s mission of protecting the American people and safeguarding our nation. Through this thorough review and prudent financial stewardship, she has saved the American people over $13 billion in less than a year."

Wider Scrutiny Over Spending

The renovation controversy comes amid broader criticism of Noem’s spending choices. Documents obtained by The New York Times last year detailed a $172 million DHS contract with Gulfstream for two "used" G700 jets, described as featuring "the most spacious cabin in the industry." Reports also note that Noem has used government-provided housing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., a residence typically reserved for the Coast Guard Commandant.

Photo Illustration by Victoria Sunday/The Daily Beast/Getty Images / Photo Illustration by Victoria Sunday/The Daily Beast/Getty Images

Some lawmakers and aides have expressed frustration with the pace and management of decisions at DHS. A senior GOP aide told NOTUS that Noem’s approach is creating friction inside the department, saying it has made coordination difficult and has "caused a lot of problems."

What’s Next

The larger renovation package will proceed with the items Noem approved, excluding the $137,000 dedicated to the commissioner’s private office. The episode illustrates tensions within DHS over priorities, transparency and the optics of workplace spending at a time when the department is under public scrutiny.