President Trump has fired Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary and announced he will nominate Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin to take her place.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social on Thursday, two days after Noem faced intense questioning on Capitol Hill from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. The hearings focused on her leadership and decisions during her tenure, including a controversial $220 million public awareness campaign aimed at encouraging people living in the United States illegally to leave voluntarily. Noem said Trump had been aware of the campaign before it launched. Trump, however, told Reuters on Thursday that he had not approved the effort.
Despite the scrutiny, Trump praised Noem’s performance, saying she had “served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results.” He said she would be reassigned as a special envoy for a new security initiative, “The Shield of the Americas,” which he said would target threats in the Western Hemisphere.
Noem confirmed the move on X, writing, “Thank you @POTUS Trump for appointing me as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. @SecRubio and @SecWar are incredible leaders, and I look forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren.”
Noem is the first cabinet secretary to depart the Trump administration in the president’s second term. Her exit follows a rare wave of criticism from members of her own party, highlighting the sharp political and operational pressures cabinet officials face in sensitive national security roles.
The decision to replace Noem with Mullin signals a shift in Trump’s approach to Homeland Security, emphasizing stronger coordination on border security and anti-cartel measures. Analysts note that the move could also reflect internal pressure from Congress and party factions concerned about messaging and accountability on immigration and public safety.
