“The truth is, we don't let them [secretaries] get in our way,” admits Brandon Wright, Platform Services Manager for the Department of Homeland Security, on hidden camera, to an undercover O'Keefe Media Group Journalist. Drawing an analogy to a septic tank, Wright described the multi-layered bureaucracy within DHS: “There’s a lot of layers, like [in] government… By the time the actual marching orders get to me and below, we can filter it in a way that steadies the ship.”

“If we don’t agree with those priorities,” he said, noting executing orders often involves deceptively construing priorities set by political appointees to make them more practical and less disruptive, adding, “there’s a lot of room for interpretation.”

When discussing Kristi Noem’s role as the Trump-appointed DHS Secretary, Wright didn’t mince words on his opinions over Noem’s qualifications for the position. “Kristi Noem doesn’t know… She doesn’t know her ass,” he remarked, adding, “The Department of Homeland Security could fall on her f*cking head, and she wouldn’t recognize what it is.”

Wright also admitted his personal dislike of her leadership style, adding, “To say that I am not excited about this would be the most epic understatement.”

The Department of Homeland Security provided the following statement to O’Keefe Media Group: “Secretary Noem has not seen the video in its entirety. This type of behavior will not be tolerated. This person has been placed on leave and is under investigation … The senior official says the termination of the official is imminent.”