Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was transported to a Washington, D.C., hospital Tuesday afternoon after suffering an unexpected allergic reaction, according to a report from CNN. The incident prompted a swift medical response, with Noem being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the situation in a statement released to the network.
“Secretary Noem had an allergic reaction today. She was transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. She is alert and recovering,” DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin told CNN. Two sources familiar with the matter reportedly confirmed that Noem was conscious upon arrival and had communicated with her security detail.
CNN noted that multiple Secret Service agents were seen stationed outside the emergency room entrance as a precaution, a typical security measure for high-ranking government officials. Noem, 53, assumed her role as Secretary of Homeland Security earlier this year. Since taking office, she has focused heavily on border enforcement and immigration policy.
Her first several months in the position have included attending high-profile immigration raids and conducting visits to detention centers, including a controversial trip to El Salvador’s high-security prison, which houses migrants deported from the United States without trial.
Her visit to the El Salvador facility drew criticism from some human rights groups, who questioned the transparency and legality of sending individuals to such prisons without judicial review. Noem, however, defended the move, arguing that her department’s priority is safeguarding the U.S. border and national security.
The incident on Tuesday sparked brief concern throughout the capital, with medical and security teams responding quickly to ensure the secretary’s health and safety. There has been no official word yet on the specific cause of the allergic reaction or any pre-existing conditions that may have contributed.
Though details remain limited, McLaughlin’s statement emphasized that Noem is expected to make a full recovery. The DHS has not released further updates as of Tuesday evening, but officials say she is being closely monitored by medical staff.
Secretary Noem’s health scare comes amid an increasingly tense political climate surrounding immigration enforcement and border security, areas in which she has played an increasingly high-profile role. Her condition is being watched closely as she continues to steer the department through one of the most contentious periods in recent DHS history.