Kristi Noem Denied Restroom Access in Illinois Public Building Clash [WATCH]

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem was denied entry into the Village of Broadview Municipal Building in Illinois, where she said she and her staff attempted to stop briefly to use the restroom.

The incident drew attention after Noem described being shouted at and physically blocked from entering the taxpayer-funded facility.

According to Noem, the exchange took place when she approached the building and asked, “Can we use your restroom?” A man inside the building responded, “No! You cannot!” before closing the door on her.

“This is what Governor Pritzker calls cooperation,” Noem remarked following the encounter.

She later added, “This is what we have to put up with every single day,” during an interview with podcast host Benny Johnson.

Noem said the situation reflected the type of obstruction federal authorities face regularly, despite their efforts to combat crime.

“All we’re doing is getting criminals and terrorists and heroin and gang members off the streets to make families safer,” she told Johnson.

BREAKING: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was just barred at the doors and screamed at while trying to enter Broadview City Hall.

Sec. Noem says this is the everyday reality for officers in cities led by Democrats like Governor JB Pritzker, facing attacks and harassment just for doing… pic.twitter.com/l3FUGD6NVC

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 3, 2025

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The Village of Broadview, where the incident occurred, receives approximately $1 million annually in federal funding.

Noem stressed that the funding connection made the denial even more troubling.

In a public statement following the event, Noem said, “My team and I were just blocked from accessing the Village of Broadview Municipal Building in Illinois. We were stopping for a quick bathroom break. This is a public building. The Village of Broadview receives at least $1 million in federal funding every year.”

She added, “This is how JB Pritzker and his cronies treat our law enforcement. Absolutely shameful.”

My team and I were just blocked from accessing the Village of Broadview Municipal Building in Illinois. We were stopping for a quick bathroom break. This is a public building. The Village of Broadview receives at least $1 million in federal funding every year.

This is how JB… https://t.co/vHxjSVh8LT

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) October 3, 2025

The confrontation highlights an ongoing tension between federal officials and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s administration.

Noem has previously criticized the state’s handling of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and law enforcement support.

The exchange at the Broadview facility added another public clash to that strained relationship.

The Department of Homeland Security under Noem has emphasized efforts to curb illegal activity, including targeting drug trafficking and gang violence.

During her remarks, Noem reiterated that DHS operations are aimed at “making families safer” by removing criminals from communities.

Noem’s comments came as part of broader criticism of Illinois’ approach to federal-state cooperation on law enforcement matters.

The incident in Broadview provided a concrete example for her office to point to, given that the building in question is publicly funded and partially reliant on federal support.

Officials from the Village of Broadview did not immediately provide a statement on the matter.

The refusal, however, has already been circulated widely on social media after Noem shared her account of what took place.

For Noem, the denial of entry into a building supported by federal funds became a symbol of what she describes as daily challenges in carrying out DHS operations.

At present, the Department of Homeland Security has not indicated whether it will pursue any formal complaint regarding the incident, but Noem’s statements suggest the confrontation will continue to factor into her broader criticisms of Illinois leadership.