President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, citing a series of leadership challenges, and announced his intention to nominate Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to lead the department. Noem, the first Cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term, will assume a new role as Special Envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a Western Hemisphere security initiative.
Trump described Noem as having “served us well” and highlighted her efforts at the border, while emphasizing that Mullin is “extraordinarily qualified” to oversee the Department of Homeland Security. The president noted on Truth Social that he expects Mullin to take office by the end of March, pending Senate confirmation.
Noem’s tenure had been increasingly scrutinized following congressional hearings that questioned her department’s $220 million ad campaign encouraging immigrants to self-deport. Noem asserted that Trump had approved the campaign, but the president refuted this, observing, “I wasn’t thrilled with it. I spent less money than that to become president. I didn’t know about it.”
Noem acknowledged her new appointment on social media, expressing her intent to continue building partnerships and applying her national security expertise. Mullin, a former House member and MMA fighter, described the nomination as “not a complete surprise” and emphasized his eagerness to begin working with the administration.
The transition comes amid ongoing debates over immigration enforcement and department funding, with the Senate now tasked with confirming Mullin’s nomination to lead the third-largest department in the federal government.
