The Trump administration is facing internal turmoil over alleged leaks within the Department of Homeland Security.
Sources say the conflict centers on Kristi Noem’s DHS team, where ambition and rivalries reportedly fueled a campaign to derail a White House nominee.
Christopher Pratt, DHS under secretary for strategy, policy, and plans, and Taylor Bush, deputy to White House liaison Paul Ingrassia, are accused of orchestrating damaging leaks.
The leaks included a sexual harassment tip and controversial texts that torpedoed Ingrassia’s nomination for the Office of Special Counsel.
Ingrassia, 30, hand-picked by President Trump, was set to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee this week.
Politico published text messages in which Ingrassia mocked Martin Luther King Jr. Day as “the seventh circle of hell” and described himself as having a “Nazi streak.”
Sources insist the leaks were part of a months-long vendetta rather than accidental disclosures, as the Daily Mail reported.
“They never liked Paul. That’s a fact,” a senior DHS official told Daily Mail.
Pratt and Ingrassia reportedly clashed for years, with White House personnel noting ongoing friction.
“This is jealousy, pure and simple. They’ve been trying to move chess pieces and take him out for months,” a source added.
Bush, roughly a decade older than Ingrassia, allegedly resented working under the younger appointee.
“He’s been knifing him for his job. They’ve been looking to get rid of Ingrassia from the start,” a second DHS source said.
Pratt, a longtime government official, had himself been nominated for a senior State Department position, but that nomination was withdrawn in September.
Sources criticized Pratt for favoritism and mishandling department resources.
Before public service, Pratt advised special operations in Afghanistan, led hostage negotiations, and served at the Pentagon managing interagency personnel recovery operations.
One insider claimed the leaks were intended to ensure experienced personnel were “taken seriously” in government roles.
Ingrassia’s attorney, Edward Paltzik, argued the texts were misrepresented and stripped of context.
“Looks like these texts could be manipulated or are being provided with material context omitted,” Paltzik said.
He described the messages as self-deprecating humor, mocking the way liberals often label MAGA supporters as “Nazis.”
Paltzik said the leaks were part of a broader effort to damage Ingrassia politically and personally.
“Authentication of allegedly leaked messages— which could be false, doctored, or lacking critical context— is extremely difficult,” he added.
The controversy follows renewed scrutiny over an earlier sexual harassment probe in which Ingrassia was cleared of wrongdoing.
“Mr. Ingrassia has never harassed any coworkers—female or otherwise,” Paltzik said.
Bush denied the claims, insisting he never participated in the texts or leaked messages.
“Allegations are categorically false. Our correspondence has only ever been work-related,” Bush told Daily Mail.
Pratt’s legal team also denied any involvement.
“Mr. Pratt has never contacted any media outlet to provide information. These allegations are unequivocally false,” his attorneys wrote.
