Kristi Noem Robbed in DC as DHS Badge, Passport and Cash Vanish Under Secret Service Watch
In a high-level security failure that’s drawing sharp attention, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was robbed inside a Washington, D.C., restaurant while dining with her family—despite being under full-time Secret Service protection.
The theft has raised serious concerns about the safety of Trump administration officials and the growing crime problem in the nation’s capital.
The incident took place Sunday evening, but it wasn’t publicly known until Monday, when Noem was asked about it during the White House Easter Egg Roll.
The 53-year-old was dining at The Capital Burger, located roughly a mile from the White House, when the theft occurred, according to sources familiar with the situation.
A person familiar with the case told the New York Post that Noem had just finished paying for her meal when she felt a brush against her leg.
Initially, she thought it was one of her grandchildren, but upon checking, she quickly realized her bag was missing.
Surveillance footage from the scene, according to those close to the investigation, shows a man, described as white and wearing a medical mask, entering the restaurant, taking Noem’s bag and leaving without drawing attention or facing any resistance.
Noem’s Secret Service detail reportedly reviewed the footage and is now leading an active investigation, with efforts focused on any potential misuse of Noem’s personal information.
The contents of the stolen bag have raised alarms due to Noem’s role as head of the Department of Homeland Security.
According to reports, the bag contained her DHS access badge, passport, driver’s license, apartment keys, prescription medication, blank checks, a makeup bag, and approximately $3,000 in cash.
Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, later confirmed the theft in a statement to the Daily Mail.
“Her entire family was in town, including her children and grandchildren—she was using the withdrawal to treat her family to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts,” McLaughlin said.
Noem was appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
She previously served as South Dakota’s governor from 2019 to 2025 and represented the state in Congress from 2011 to 2019, per Trending Politics.
Despite full-time Secret Service protection, the fact that a Cabinet official could be robbed in public without immediate intervention has reignited criticism of Washington, D.C.’s handling of crime and safety.
The city continues to face backlash over its rising theft, violent crime, and perceived lack of accountability.
A source familiar with the matter said that the Secret Service is actively monitoring for any attempted misuse of Noem’s identity or government access tools.
So far, neither the DHS nor the Secret Service has issued a formal public statement, other than confirming the incident and announcing that an investigation is ongoing.
Conservatives have pointed to this incident as yet another example of the growing security concerns in Democrat-run cities.
Critics argue that if a senior federal official under active protection can be targeted so easily, it raises serious concerns about the safety of ordinary citizens.
“Where was her Secret Service protection? She has the Presidential Protective Division—the highest level detail, even above the Vice Presidential Division,” independent journalist Susan Crabtree wrote on X.
As the suspect remains at large, the theft continues to cast doubt on the readiness and oversight of law enforcement agencies tasked with safeguarding the nation’s highest officials.
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