Clearly frustrated, Tillis criticized Noem sharply for the wrongful detention of American citizens by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Accusing Noem of “stonewalling,” Tillis warned of significant disruptions to Senate proceedings as a consequence.

“If these questions, which you’ve had a month to address, remain unanswered, I will notify leadership that I intend to halt any en banc nominations,” Tillis cautioned Noem.

“Should I still not receive a response in two weeks, I plan to obstruct quorum and markup sessions across as many committees as possible,” he added.

“A 14-month-old dog is equivalent to a teenager in human years,” Tillis declared heatedly.

“Opting to put down the dog due to a lack of invested time and training, and then claiming it’s a leadership lesson about tough decisions in a book, is audacious,” he criticized.

He also criticised Noem as “incompetent” over her handling of FEMA, the US emergency response bureau.

He was specifically critical of her handling of the Hurricane Helene response in his home state of North Carolina.

Tillis is retiring at the end of his term in January, and as he nears the end of his Senate career, his criticism of the Trump administration has become more strident.

He is likely to be replaced by Democrat Roy Cooper, who is well ahead in the polls.

Noem was also criticised by another Republican, Louisiana’s John Kennedy, over her appearance in an ad campaign for the Department of Homeland Security.

“The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?” he asked Noem.

“It’s just hard for me to believe, knowing the president as I do, that you said, ‘Mr President, here’s some ads I’ve cut, and I’m going to spend $220 million running them’ that he would have agreed to that.”

Noem has refused to resign from her role.

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