Make the DHS Secretary Step Back
At a minimum, the DHS secretary should immediately become the least visible member of this administration.
That sentence nails the problem: visibility has become performance art while the real work of homeland security is sidelined. The department was created to keep Americans safe, not to headline morning shows. When the face of DHS is more concerned with optics than outcomes, everybody pays the price.
Visibility matters when it equals accountability and competence, but not when it substitutes for results. Voters expect a secretary who prioritizes secure borders, lawful immigration and protection of critical infrastructure over political theater. When leadership chases headlines instead of coordinating operations, professional staff morale and agency effectiveness both suffer.
The core duty of DHS is clear: defend the homeland, enforce the law, and support first responders. That work is technical, bureaucratic and often boring, which is exactly why it should be done quietly and well. High-profile pronouncements that don’t translate into improved operations only weaken public confidence.
Reducing public exposure doesn’t mean hiding from oversight or ducking tough questions. It means letting career experts run operations, letting data drive decisions and keeping political messaging secondary to mission execution. When the secretary becomes less of a celebrity and more of a manager, policy and enforcement can catch up.
Part of the issue is politicization of agents and resources that should be apolitical. DHS must remain focused on threats, not on scoring political points that distract from real security needs. Politicized priorities invite inconsistent enforcement and leave gaps for criminals and cartels to exploit.
Border security is the clear example where attention without results is harmful. When press appearances replace a coherent strategy for controlling entry and processing claims, smugglers and traffickers adapt quickly. Consistent policies, robust enforcement and real cooperation with neighboring countries and local law enforcement are what reduce harm.
Another priority for a quieter, more competent DHS is restoring trust with state and local partners. Governors, sheriffs and first responders need rapid support and clear channels for information and resources. A visible secretary who focuses on PR weakens those partnerships by making them reactive instead of proactive.
Operational secrecy and discretion are often necessary to thwart threats, especially in counterterrorism and cyber defense. Loud statements about tactics or shifting priorities can tip adversaries and create vulnerabilities. A low-profile leadership style can let experts plan, test and execute without inviting undue risk.
Transparency still matters, but it should be measured and factual, not performative or partisan. Regular, substance-driven briefings with Congress and clear reporting to the public are essential. The goal should be credible information that reassures citizens and supports oversight, not staged theatrics that fuel division.
Finally, personnel leadership counts more than media presence. Supporting rank-and-file agents with training, equipment and legal clarity boosts effectiveness across the board. A secretary who channels energy into strengthening the workforce will protect Americans far better than one chasing headlines.
To be blunt, this is about competence over celebrity. If the secretary reduces visibility and empowers professionals, DHS can get back to its core mission. The nation needs that kind of steady leadership now more than ever.