President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following mounting criticism over her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security, ending a turbulent tenure marked by controversy over immigration enforcement and disaster response.
Trump announced on social media that he would nominate Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace Noem as secretary, with the change set to take effect March 31, 2026.
He also said Noem would transition to a new role as “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere.
Noem’s departure makes her the first Cabinet secretary to leave office during Trump’s second term.
Her tenure had drawn increasing scrutiny from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, particularly during hearings earlier in the week where lawmakers questioned her handling of immigration policy and departmental spending.
Noem faced intense questioning during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, where lawmakers examined a $220 million advertising campaign encouraging people in the United States illegally to voluntarily leave the country.
During the hearing, Noem told lawmakers the president had been aware of the campaign in advance.
Trump later disputed that claim, saying he had not signed off on the effort.
A senior administration official also rejected the suggestion that the president approved the initiative.
Republican Sen. John Kennedy said the president’s recollection differed from Noem’s account, highlighting the tensions surrounding the issue.
The hearing reflected broader concerns among lawmakers and administration officials about Noem’s performance and decision-making at the department.
Noem’s leadership had already been under pressure due to criticism over the administration’s immigration enforcement operations, including the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis during enforcement actions.
The incidents intensified scrutiny of the department’s tactics and contributed to protests and legal challenges.
Questions were also raised about the department’s management of billions of dollars allocated by Congress and its response to disaster relief efforts overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Additional controversy arose when the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program was temporarily suspended during a partial government shutdown before being reversed after intervention from the White House.
Mullin’s nomination now heads to the Senate, where he must be confirmed before permanently assuming the role.
Under federal law governing executive branch vacancies, however, he may serve as acting secretary while his nomination is pending.
Speaking shortly after the announcement during Senate votes, Mullin said he had “no idea” how quickly the confirmation process would move forward.