Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently sat down with CNN’s Dana Bash to review important events throughout the first several weeks of the Trump administration. During the discussion, Bash pressed Noem on various topics, such as detaining illegal immigrants at Guantanamo Bay, Elon Musk’s DOGE, and more.
At one point in the interview, Bash highlighted concerns from the left about Musk gaining access to “sensitive data.” The CNN host echoed opinions that the multi-billionaire should not be permitted to obtain such data, questioning if he had the authorization to do so. “The Washington Post is reporting that Musk and his Doge team have access to FEMA sensitive disaster data, which includes personal information about tens of thousands of disaster victims.”
She asked Noem, “Have you authorized Elon Musk and his team to have access to Americans’ personal data that is housed inside DHS?” Noem responded, “We’re working with them at the president’s direction, to find what we can do to make our department much more efficient.” She maintained an audit of the government is long overdue. “So this is essentially an audit of the Federal Government which is which is very powerful and needs to have happened,” she said.
Noem continued, “One of the things I’ve been very clear to the appropriators in the Senate, in the House, is, please give me the authority to reprogram funds.” However, Bash interjected, “There’s a difference from him having access to personal data that is housed…” Noem interrupted, confidently stating, “The President has authorized him to have access.”
Bash asked with a hint of skepticism, “And you feel comfortable?” to which Noem said, “Absolutely.” The host pushed back, stating, “I remember a time when Republicans were very careful about and worried about the government, particularly unelected people.” Noem asserted, “We can’t trust the government.” Bash fired back, “You are the government.”
Noem then reminded Bash that is precisely why Trump was elected, to restore trust in the government through the current administration. “Yes, that’s what I’m saying. Is that the American people now are saying that we have had our personal information shared and out there.” After Bash retorted that Musk now has access to that very data, Noem added, “Elon Musk is part of the administration that is helping us identify where we can find savings and what we can do. And he has gone through the processes to make sure that he has the authority your total president has granted him.”
She added, “I am today by the work that he’s doing by identifying waste, fraud and abuse, and his information that he has is looking at programs, not focusing on personal data and information. Noem stated, “This audit needs to happen to make sure that we are going through a process that has integrity back into these programs and people’s personal information has been out there in these caseworks that have been closed for a long time that people are getting responses now that they haven’t had before.”
"*" indicates required fields
Noem has subsequently been praised by conservatives on social media for her handling of the pressing question. One person replied to a clip of the segment on X, writing, “Way to go Secretary Noem— destroys CNN reporter trying to trip her up and discredit her— Kristi buried her!!” Watch Noem and Bash argue about Musk below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.