After SNL reunited Amy Poehler and Tina Fey to hilariously parody Pam Bondi’s fiery congressional hearing, the Department of Homeland Security unexpectedly joined the joke — issuing a cheeky response that turned satire into a real-life political moment, blurring the line between comedy and government with both humor and controversy.

In an unusually spicy turn for government comedy relations, the Department of Homeland Security has officially responded to Saturday Night Live’s October 11 cold open — the one that reunited Amy Poehler and Tina Fey to lampoon Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Senate hearing and the DHS leadership under Kristi Noem.

The sketch, which aired live from Studio 8H in New York, drew sharp laughs and sharper political satire — and now it’s drawn a serious reaction from inside the Beltway.

The sketch opens with Poehler reprising her legacy SNL persona as Bondi, addressing a fictional Senate Judiciary Committee.

She breezily states: “What’s up nerds? My name is Pam Bondi.

I spell it with an ‘I’ ’cause ‘I ain’t gonna answer any of your questions.

My time is valuable.

” Over the next several minutes, she deflects, cracks jokes, insults senators, and glances down at a cheat sheet whenever she’s cornered.

When pressed by “Sen.

Blumenthal” (Mikey Day) about Trump’s influence, she retorts, “Before I don’t answer, I’d like to insult you personally.

” The satirical Bondi then kicks the stand over to Noem.

Enter Tiffany—er, Tina Fey as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—striding in brandishing an assault rifle.

“Hold my gun,” she quips.

“That’s right, it’s me, Kristi Noem.

I spell my name with an ‘I’ because that’s how I thought it was spelled.

” She mocks government shutdowns, swings at Democrats, and even lampshades Noem’s real-life confession about having shot a puppy decades ago by cracking that she finds that revelation funnier than the ending of Old Yeller.

She then launches into a parody ICE recruitment ad, complete with questions like “Tough enough for army or police? (No!)” and “Do you use zip ties because people don’t trust you with keys?” all delivered in deadpan with Poehler’s Bondi interjecting supportively.

Behind the scenes, the real-world drama that inspired the sketch had been rolling earlier.

Bondi’s actual congressional hearing on October 7 was a tense, five-hour affair in which she dodged repeated questions about her actions as AG, traded barbs with senators, and repeatedly referred to a government shutdown disrupting committee business.

The hearing’s theatrical tone made it ripe for satire.

When SNL aired the sketch, reactions lit up social media.

Republicans and Democrats alike took sides on everything from the accuracy of the insults to the broader message about accountability in public office.

What surprised many, however, was that the Department of Homeland Security didn’t issue a standard boilerplate denial or ignore it entirely.

Instead, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin weighed in — in agreement with a line from the sketch.

“SNL is absolutely right — the Democrats’ shutdown does need to end,” she said, effectively embracing one of the show’s political punches.

In doing so, she transformed what could have been a defensive statement into a partisan echo of the satire.

Meanwhile, Pam Bondi herself has responded with a blend of humor and grace.

Rather than lash out, she took to social media inviting further comedic recreation of the sketch, tagging Noem and joking “Loving Amy Poehler!” when referencing the parody.

She clearly isn’t taking the jabs too seriously — and the mockery doesn’t seem to be rattling her office.

White House officials, however, stayed largely mum.

A spokesman reportedly declined to directly respond to SNL’s parody, suggesting it didn’t warrant presidential comment.

Some analysts believe that silence may itself be indicative of a broader discomfort with the sketch’s sting.

In Washington, the clash of satire and statecraft isn’t new, but it’s rare to see the institution being lampooned not just push back — but actually adopt one of the show’s own criticisms.

Whether DHS’s response will shift public focus back to the real controversy — the government shutdown and questions about executive accountability — remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: when Fey and Poehler teamed up to put Bondi and Noem on literal display, they reignited a conversation about spectacle, power, and mockery in American politics.

And now, with DHS chiming in, the joke is shining an even brighter spotlight on who’s really listening.