What is the current atmosphere within the Department of Homeland Security as the Trump administration prepares for job cuts?

According to NBC News Homeland Security correspondent Julia Ainsley, it's a 'really scary time' within DHS. Career officials describe an insular environment where employees fear communication with colleagues could jeopardize their positions. Some are so concerned they tell former colleagues they can't even have their contacts in phone records. The anxiety is particularly acute among longtime employees, many who have served for over 10 years in an agency that has only existed since 2003. Staff members are operating in isolation, worried about loyalty assessments as they attempt to preserve their careers while continuing to perform their established duties amid the uncertainty of pending job cuts.