In a rare bipartisan outcry, Republican Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have publicly demanded the dismissal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This follows her handling of a tragic incident in Minneapolis, where a 37-year-old man, Alex Pretti, was fatally shot by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents. The incident occurred last Saturday and has since stirred significant controversy and calls for accountability.

Senator Tillis was particularly forthright in his criticism, stating that Secretary Noem's actions were "disqualifying" and described them as "amateurish." He expressed his concerns about the negative light this casts on the Presidency, saying, “It’s terrible. It’s making the president look bad.” His Alaskan counterpart, Senator Murkowski, echoed this sentiment, succinctly adding that Noem "should go."

The criticism does not stop with Secretary Noem. Tillis also pointed fingers at Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who, along with Noem, allegedly informed the President prematurely that Pretti was a terrorist, without waiting for a detailed incident report. “Those two people told the president before they even had any incident report whatsoever that the person who died was a terrorist. I mean, that is amateur hour at its worst,” Tillis remarked.

Both Republican senators are pioneers in their party for taking a stand against a sitting Cabinet member from their own party's administration. The pressure is also mounting from the Democratic side, with some members calling for Noem’s impeachment.

Amidst this political storm, Senator Tillis has shown openness to consider operational reforms within DHS. He supports an independent investigation into the incident and is agreeable to separate DHS funding from a six-bill legislative package currently under Senate debate. “I wouldn’t have a problem with its absence,” Tillis commented on the potential exclusion of the DHS bill from the package, reflecting a significant shift in legislative priorities in light of recent events.

As debates and discussions continue, the future of Secretary Noem remains uncertain, with bipartisan voices growing louder for her dismissal and systemic changes within the Department of Homeland Security.