Kristi Noem has been dismissed as Secretary of Homeland Security by President Donald Trump, making her the first cabinet secretary to depart during his second term. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma has been nominated as her successor. Noem will transition to a new role as Special Envoy for "The Shield of the Americas," a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere. Her dismissal followed two days of congressional questioning and occurred amidst scrutiny of her leadership.
Secretary Noem's Departure from DHS
President Donald Trump announced the removal of Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security on Thursday via social media. Her departure followed two days of questioning on Capitol Hill by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers regarding her leadership of the department. Noem was reportedly informed of her removal upon arriving at a conference in Nashville, shortly before Trump's public announcement. She subsequently issued a memo to employees, describing her role as the "honor of my life."
A White House official indicated that Noem's replacement was due to "a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures," including the fallout from an incident in Minneapolis, a controversial advertising campaign, allegations of infidelity, staff mismanagement, and reported conflicts with other agencies such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The official stated that Noem's actions "overshadowed and distracted" from the administration's immigration agenda. Corey Lewandowski, an adviser to Noem, is also expected to depart.
Multiple DHS and FEMA officials reportedly expressed relief following Noem's departure, with some describing it as "long overdue." Officials reported a "culture of fear" within FEMA during her tenure, which allegedly led to the departure of experienced leaders and a significant portion of its permanent workforce. Internal communications described "audible cheers" and a sense of relief among FEMA staff upon news of her removal.
Noem's Tenure and Controversies
During her time as Secretary, Noem was a public face for the Trump administration's immigration agenda. Her department aimed to deport one million individuals without legal status annually, with data indicating 605,000 deportations and a record number of people in immigration detention. She also oversaw a significant increase in ICE officers and Border Patrol agents.
Noem's tenure was marked by several controversies:
- Minneapolis Incidents: She oversaw an immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, during which two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, died during interactions with federal immigration officers. Noem characterized Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" before an investigation concluded, a claim she stated was based on initial reports from CBP during a "chaotic scene." The heads of CBP and ICE later denied providing Noem with information supporting this claim. Senators Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski had called for her resignation following these events.
- Advertising Campaign: Noem faced scrutiny for a $220 million ad campaign featuring herself, which encouraged individuals in the country illegally to depart voluntarily. Noem informed lawmakers that President Trump was aware of and had approved this spending. However, Trump later disputed this in interviews with Reuters and NBC News, stating he did not approve the campaign and was "not thrilled with it."
- Agency Management: The DHS operated under a 20-day shutdown due to a lapse in congressional budget funding, during which many employees continued to work without pay. Noem also faced criticism regarding the pace of emergency funding approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the administration's response to disasters. Her department was also accused by DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari of obstructing his office's work. Other reported issues included DHS's purchase of multiple luxury jets and significant reductions in FEMA staff.
- Personal Allegations: Noem denied rumors of an affair with her top adviser, Corey Lewandowski, during congressional hearings.
Criticism of Gubernatorial Tenure
Kristi Noem, who served as Governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025, also faced criticism regarding her time in that office. Mike Levsen, former mayor of Aberdeen, South Dakota, stated her dismissal was not surprising given her "lack of any significant accomplishment" as governor. Specific criticisms included minimal involvement with the Legislature, frequent absences and lack of transparency, operational issues and soaring staff turnover, and instances of self-dealing for herself and her family. Her Covid-era ad campaign, "Freedom Works Here," costing $6.5 million, was described as a "Trump-based ploy" and was linked by some critics to South Dakota's high per capita death rates. She also had a difficult relationship with tribal governments, leading to all nine of South Dakota's indigenous tribes voting to ban Noem from their lands in 2024.
New Role: Special Envoy for "The Shield of the Americas"
Following her dismissal from DHS, President Trump appointed Noem as a Special Envoy for "The Shield of the Americas," a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere. She is expected to join President Trump and 12 Latin American leaders at a summit in Doral, Florida, on Saturday.
The coalition, comprising 13 countries, aims to develop strategies to address mass illegal immigration, narco-terrorist gangs, and cartels.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that President Trump established the "Donroe Doctrine" to restore American influence in the Western Hemisphere, citing efforts in border security, collaboration against cartels, and economic cooperation with Venezuela. Noem confirmed her attendance, indicating that the president is expected to announce a "big agreement" detailing plans to target cartels and drug trafficking. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales commented that Noem's prior work in border security, deportations, and counter-drug operations as DHS Secretary positions her well for this new role.
Senator Markwayne Mullin Nominated as Successor
Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) has been nominated by President Trump as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. Trump stated that Mullin, described as a "former undefeated professional MMA fighter" and the only Native American in the Senate, will focus on securing the border, stopping migrant crime, and combating illegal drugs.
Mullin has served in Congress since 2013 and is recognized as an ally of Donald Trump and a proponent of immigration enforcement tactics. His professional background includes experience as a contractor, a talk show host, and a mixed martial arts fighter. He would advise the president on various security matters, including overseeing the Coast Guard and FEMA, and playing a key role in counter-terrorism, aviation security, and cybersecurity. Mullin has previously advocated for positions such as deporting children born in the U.S. to undocumented parents with their families and has defended actions of immigration officers in controversial incidents. He previously described the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack as a "riot."
Confirmation Process
Mullin's appointment requires confirmation by the Senate. Federal law allows him to serve as acting Homeland Security Secretary while his nomination is pending. Mullin is slated to appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, where reports indicate prior disagreements with the committee's chairman, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Trump has indicated that Mullin would assume the role on March 31st, though Mullin commented he has "no idea" how quickly his nomination will proceed.
Related Personnel Departure: Tricia McLaughlin
Separately, Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs and chief spokesperson at the Department of Homeland Security, is also departing the agency next week. She had initially planned to leave in December but postponed her exit following the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
McLaughlin served as a prominent spokesperson for the Trump administration's immigration policies, engaging in network interviews to discuss DHS immigration initiatives, national disaster relief, and other agency operations. She promoted immigration arrests, defended actions by DHS agents, and advocated for immigrants to "self-deport." Her departure occurs as DHS faces challenges, including operating under a shutdown due to a lapse in congressional budget funding and increased political scrutiny over immigration enforcement activities. Katie Zacharia, a Fox News analyst, is anticipated to join the DHS communications team following McLaughlin's exit.
Recent public opinion data, according to a January CBS News poll, indicated that 46% of Americans supported the administration's deportation efforts, a decrease from 59% at the beginning of the administration, and 61% of respondents considered immigration agents to be "too tough." White House border official Tom Homan subsequently announced the conclusion of the large-scale deployment of ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.