In a bold behind–the–scenes power play, the acting communications chief for the Department of Homeland Security made a direct appeal to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to secure a permanent promotion, as the department she oversees descends into what insiders describe as a 'dumpster fire' of internal sabotage.

Four sources tell Daily Mail that Lauren Bis took the extraordinary step of lobbying Leavitt directly earlier this year – hoping to replace her former boss, Tricia McLaughlin, as the permanent Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs.

DHS's 'mouthpiece' department sits at the high–stakes intersection of the border crisis, counter–terrorism and disaster response. While seeking a promotion isn't a crime, insiders say the timing and intensity of the bid have exposed deep fractures within a department already reeling from a leadership vacuum.

Colleagues aren't just complaining about Bis's ambition; they are sounding the alarm over what they describe as a 'retaliatory' and 'toxic' management style that has left an already struggling communications shop.

DHS and ICE insiders claim Bis pressed for the release of information on sealed indictments and active investigations – a move, sources say, that could have 'jeopardized' sensitive law enforcement operations.

A source familiar with DHS disputed the allegations of misconduct, calling the friction a 'misunderstanding' of daily operations and slamming critics as 'either dumb or vengeful.' 

Bis and her former boss McLaughlin have been accused of orchestrating a wave of firings and banishing other employees to other departments.

'I think she might be a robot,' one source familiar with the internal friction said. 'She works a lot and doesn't sleep. But she also doesn't get along with people. She will get rid of people quickly, and that has caused a lot of stress.'

The chaos is the fallout of a brutal transition. The department has been in a tailspin since the President fired former Secretary Kristi Noem in early 2026. Bis entered the department in 2025 as a loyalist to the 'old camp' – the faction tied to Noem and controversial advisor Corey Lewandowski.

While most of the Noem–Lewandowski era staffers have been unceremoniously dumped, Bis is attempting to pivot and prove her worth to the new regime.

'Most of the staff who worked during the Noem and Lewandowski era have been removed,' one agency source explained. 'People don't even want to be associated with Lewandowski within the new team. It's like a bad stain.'

The Daily Mail reported back in late March that the White House moved Noem's closest allies from Homeland Security, as tensions inside the agency grow over a potential firing list overseen by Stephen Miller.

Ten officials close to Noem were shifted to the State Department where they assist the ousted Homeland chief in her new role as special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, sources told the Daily Mail. The move comes after a blacklist containing the names of more than two dozen Noem loyalists was reviewed by Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller - a hardliner who was pivotal in her demise.

At the top of this new mess stands the new Secretary, Markwayne Mullin. Unlike a bystander, sources familiar with the department explain Mullin is fully aware that he has 'inherited a mess' and is actively wielding his power to scrub the department clean.

Mullin is currently navigating a 'spider web' of conflicting alliances. On one side is the 'old guard' trying to cling to relevance; on the other is a 'new team' looking for a total reset.

The change has already been extensive. Katie Zacharia, a conservative lawyer and spokeswoman, resigned after being sidelined into 'fielding emails' instead of appearing on TV, according to a source close to her.

She did not respond for comment.

'We're chasing our tail with stupid stories, and we're just not putting out enough good stuff,' one DHS source lamented. 

Kasey Piurowski, the ICE Press Secretary, and Elissa Bodenhorn, assistant to the former chief, have also been shown the door. At least five other junior staffers have fled the department in the last 14 months as morale hits an all–time low.

The internal dysfunction has reached such a pitch that operational arms like ICE office of public affairs are reportedly in 'open revolt,' with some officials refusing to collaborate with the main DHS comms office due to perceived incompetence.

But a source at DHS argues otherwise.

'The communications department would get about 300 inquiries a day - a high volume that's really hard to handle. ICE [communications] would handle 5 percent of those,’ they added.

All this tension follows the February departure of Tricia McLaughlin amid high–profile shootings in Minneapolis and reports of a no-bid taxpayer–funded contract awarded to her husband's firm for an ad campaign featuring Noem. 

The department and McLaughlin have called those accusations 'baseless.' 

Despite the internal warfare, the White House is publicly maintaining a united front.

Spokesperson Abigail Jackson insisted the team has 'coordinated flawlessly,' dismissing critics as 'outside voices attempting to sow division.'

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons dismissed the criticisms as 'anonymous lies from disgruntled former staffers.' 

Bis denied commenting for the story.