Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem disclosed that employees within her own agency installed surveillance software on her phone and laptop to monitor her activities and record meetings, relying on technical experts from Elon Musk’s team to uncover the breach.
Discovery of Internal Surveillance
Noem revealed the surveillance operation during an interview on The PBD Podcast with host Patrick Bet-David on February 27, 2026. She explained that Musk’s technical team helped identify spyware that staffers had downloaded onto devices used by her and other political appointees. The DHS chief emphasized that without these outside technology experts examining department equipment, the surveillance would continue undetected. Beyond the digital spying, Noem said investigators discovered a secret Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility containing hidden files that nobody knew existed.
Performing my role as Secretary of Homeland Security has shown me just how real and dangerous the deep state really is.@elonmusk helped us find that a few DHS staff had installed spying software on the phones and computers of myself and other political hires. We found secret,… pic.twitter.com/ktnM6j7kog
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) February 26, 2026
The Secretary described turning over the concealed documents to attorneys and bringing in personnel for questioning. She stated that federal agencies often lag in technological capabilities, making partnerships with private sector technology companies essential for identifying sophisticated surveillance methods. Noem did not specify how many staffers were involved or what disciplinary actions resulted from the investigation.
Ongoing Concerns About Agency Personnel
Noem characterized the incident as evidence that the so-called Deep State represents a genuine threat within federal agencies. She stated that DHS continues to harbor embedded personnel who harbor hostility toward American interests. The Secretary stressed the importance of continued vigilance and outside technical assistance to prevent similar breaches. Her comments align with broader concerns among administration officials about career bureaucrats resisting political leadership directives.
Implications for Agency Security
The disclosure raises serious questions about internal security protocols at one of America’s largest federal agencies responsible for national security. DHS oversees immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, border protection, and counterterrorism operations with approximately 260,000 employees. Internal surveillance of cabinet-level officials by their own staff represents a significant breach of trust and chain of command. The incident highlights vulnerabilities that could potentially compromise sensitive national security information if hostile actors gain access to similar monitoring capabilities within federal agencies.