Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem rebuked the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday for labeling the shootings of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C, last month an “unfortunate accident.”
In a hearing on worldwide threats before lawmakers Thursday, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) characterized the murder of one National Guard member, Sarah Beckstrom, and injury of fellow member, Andrew Wolfe, on Nov. 26 as an “unfortunate accident,” and later called it an “unfortunate situation” as he posed a question to Noem about the suspected shooter’s immigration status.
“You and the gentlemen from the [National Counterterrorism Center] referenced the unfortunate accident that occurred with the National Guardsmen and killed,” Thompson said.
Noem jumped in and responded, “You think that was an unfortunate accident?”
“It was a terrorist attack,” she said.
“Look, I’ll get it straight,” Thompson said.
“He shot our National Guardsmen in the head,” Noem said.
“Look, Mr. Chairman, will you direct the witness to allow me to ask my question. It was an unfortunate situation,” Thompson said.
🚨 Rep. Bennie Thompson refers to the terrorist attack against two National Guardsmen in DC as an “unfortunate accident.”
Sec. Noem: “Unfortunate accident? It was a terroist attack. They shot our Guardsmen in the head.” pic.twitter.com/34YtPrVteF
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 11, 2025
Moments later, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) interrupted and rebuked Thompson for his comments.
“Point of order, Mr. Chairman,” Ogles said. “That was a murder that took place in D.C. It was not an unfortunate incident. And those comments are effin’ disrespectful. I expect better.”
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) responded that Ogles’s interruption was not a valid point of order.
Police arrested and have charged 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal of Bellingham, Washington, with murder.
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Lakanwal was admitted into the United States amid the 2021 Kabul withdrawal and was approved for asylum in April during the Trump administration, which is why Thompson had attempted to ask Noem why her department had approved his application.
The annual worldwide threats hearing is conducted by the House Homeland Security Committee and is intended to brief lawmakers on the biggest concerns to the United States from outside the nation’s borders.
