Kristi Noem Removed as DHS Secretary; Senator Markwayne Mullin Tapped as Replacement

Kristi Noem Exits Department of Homeland Security in Unexpected Shake-Up

Kristi Noem, the former South Dakota governor who has served as Secretary of Homeland Security during President Donald Trump's second term, was abruptly removed from her position on Thursday. Trump made the announcement via Truth Social, revealing that Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin would be nominated to succeed her, with the transition set to take effect on March 31.

Trump Praises Noem, Assigns Her New Role

In his announcement, Trump credited Noem with delivering strong results during her time at DHS — most notably along the southern border — before announcing her reassignment as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a new Western Hemisphere security initiative set to be unveiled at a Saturday event in Doral, Florida.

"The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results — especially on the Border — will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas," Trump wrote, expressing gratitude for her service at the department.

In her first public response following the transition announcement, Noem took to X to thank the president and highlight what she described as historic accomplishments under her leadership. She cited a dramatically more secure border, approximately 3 million illegal aliens departing the United States, the location of 145,000 children, accelerated FEMA disaster relief, $13 billion in taxpayer savings, and a revitalized U.S. Coast Guard as key achievements during her 13 months heading the agency.

"The western hemisphere is absolutely critical for U.S. security," Noem stated, expressing enthusiasm for her new diplomatic role and her intent to continue combating drug cartels alongside Secretaries Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth.

Mullin Caught Off Guard by the Nomination

Trump endorsed Mullin warmly, touting his record as a former undefeated MMA fighter, his standing as the first Native American senator in several decades following Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, and his close alignment with the administration's immigration enforcement agenda.

Despite the glowing endorsement, Mullin himself appeared surprised by the selection. After rushing to cast a vote on DHS funding legislation — which ultimately failed — and slipping out through a back Senate entrance, Mullin spoke candidly with reporters gathered outside the chamber.

"I think I need to talk to my wife first," Mullin admitted when asked whether he was heading to the White House to meet with Trump.

Notably, Mullin does not currently sit on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee — the very panel responsible for reviewing and confirming his nomination. Nevertheless, he expressed genuine excitement about the opportunity.

"I wasn't expecting the call today, but I am super excited. There's a lot of work we can do to get Homeland Security working for the American people," he said.

Noem's Record at DHS: A Mixed Legacy

During her tenure, Noem oversaw a sweeping reversal of the immigration policies that characterized the Biden administration under her predecessor, Alejandro Mayorkas. DHS recorded more than half a million pounds of illegal drug seizures in her first year alone. Her department also claimed credit for over 2 million self-deportations and approximately 670,000 formal removals of undocumented immigrants in 2025 — figures that supporters have characterized as the most effective immigration enforcement campaign in American history.

However, her leadership was not without controversy. Mass deportation operations, particularly those conducted in Minneapolis, drew sharp public criticism and appeared to erode some public support for the administration's immigration agenda. The backlash prompted Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, to personally step in, replacing U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino in the Twin Cities amid the political firestorm.

Her agency also clashed publicly with several prominent Democratic figures, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, Representative Eric Swalwell, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Maryland congressional candidate David Trone, who accused DHS of "executing people in the streets" while filming a campaign ad outside a newly acquired detention facility.

Controversies Cloud Final Days in Office

Reports emerging Thursday indicated that Trump was deeply dissatisfied with Noem's performance during a pair of bicameral Judiciary Committee hearings held earlier in the week. A significant source of tension was a taxpayer-funded advertising contract that had been subcontracted to a firm with ties to Noem's inner circle. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana and other lawmakers grilled her over the deal during the hearings.

According to National Review, Noem compounded the problem by suggesting to Kennedy that Trump himself had approved the advertisement — a claim a White House official directly contradicted, confirming to Fox News that the president had no knowledge of or involvement in the ad.

"It was a combination of her many unfortunate leadership failures — from Minnesota to the ad campaign to the allegations of an affair," a source familiar with the matter told Fox News.

Affair Allegations Surface During House Hearing

The hearings grew even more contentious when Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California directly questioned Noem about rumors of a romantic relationship with Corey Lewandowski, a senior figure in Trump's 2016 campaign who had been serving as a DHS special government employee. The exchange was particularly charged given that Noem's husband, Bryon Noem, was seated just a few feet behind her during the proceedings.

Representative Jared Moskowitz of Florida piled on, pressing Noem further on the Lewandowski rumors while wearing a "Justice for Cricket" pin — a pointed reference to the family dog Noem once acknowledged euthanizing on her farm.

Noem responded with visible frustration, calling the line of questioning "offensive" and confronting Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, saying she was "shocked that we're going down and peddling this tabloid garbage."

"The socialist, liberal left attacks conservative women and says we're either stupid or we're sluts. I am neither of those," Noem fired back at Moskowitz.

Republican Allies Defend Noem's Leadership

Despite the turbulence surrounding her exit, a number of Republican lawmakers offered strong praise for Noem's record at DHS. Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana, a former law enforcement officer, was particularly vocal in her defense during the House hearing.

"Madam Secretary, you inherited a disaster, and you turned it around. An astonishing 97% decrease in illegal crossings isn't a coincidence — it's leadership. Know that this committee has your back," Higgins declared, expressing embarrassment over what he called the "antics" of his Democratic colleagues.

In the interim, Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar — a Navy veteran and former mayor of Los Alamitos, California — is expected to serve as acting DHS Secretary until Mullin's confirmation is completed.