President Donald Trump removed Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security Today, making her the first cabinet member to depart his second administration. Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin will replace her, effective March 31, pending Senate confirmation.
Trump announced the change on Truth Social, framing Noem’s exit as a transition rather than a dismissal. She will move into a newly created role as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere set to be formally announced Saturday in Doral, Florida. The move comes after Noem spent two days testifying before both the Senate and House judiciary committees under sharp questioning from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
What brought Noem down
Noem’s tenure at DHS had grown increasingly turbulent in the weeks leading up to her removal. The agency she led had been operating through a partial shutdown, with roughly 100,000 employees furloughed including those working in cybersecurity and disaster relief. Democrats had refused to approve new DHS funding until significant changes were made to how Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted its operations.
Her congressional testimony proved damaging on multiple fronts. Lawmakers questioned her over a $220 million advertising campaign featuring Noem herself, urging undocumented migrants to self-deport. She was also pressed on the deaths of two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during an immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis that involved roughly 3,000 officers. Noem had publicly described Pretti as a domestic terrorist before any investigation had been completed, drawing condemnation from Republicans and Democrats alike.
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, a Republican, called for her resignation during the hearing, describing conditions at the agency under her watch as a disaster. An inspector general letter obtained during the proceedings accused her department of systematically obstructing oversight work related to immigrant arrests, airport security and counterintelligence. Reports also indicated Trump was personally displeased by her testimony, particularly her acknowledgment that he had approved the expensive advertising campaign.
Noem’s record at DHS
During her time leading the 250,000-person agency, Noem oversaw the most aggressive immigration enforcement push in recent American history. DHS deported 605,000 people and reached a record number of individuals held in immigration detention under her watch. She launched a significant hiring surge at ICE and expanded Border Patrol operations across the country.
Her tenure also drew consistent legal scrutiny. Federal judges blocked DHS from using wartime powers to accelerate deportations, and courts ordered the return of some deportees. The Supreme Court weighed in on related cases as the administration’s immigration agenda repeatedly ran into judicial resistance. Her selection of Corey Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign aide, for a DHS advisory role also generated criticism.
Despite the controversies, she remained a visible and vocal advocate for the administration’s immigration agenda, conducting international trips and domestic press events to promote deportation numbers and the broader policy vision.
Who Mullin is and what comes next
Mullin, 48, served 10 years in the U.S. House of Representatives before winning his Senate seat three years ago. He is a former undefeated professional mixed martial arts fighter and has been one of the more consistent defenders of Trump’s agenda in the Senate. Trump described him as someone who understands the demands of the role and highlighted his status as the only Native American currently serving in the Senate.
If confirmed, Mullin will oversee one of the federal government’s largest and most complex agencies, with responsibilities spanning immigration enforcement, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, counterterrorism, aviation security and cybersecurity.
His confirmation will require a Senate vote. Republicans hold a majority in the chamber, though the level of scrutiny Mullin faces will depend in part on how much appetite remains for examining DHS leadership after the extended criticism of his predecessor.
The transition is set for March 31, 2026.