WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kristi Noem is out as Department of Homeland Security secretary (DHS), per a Truth Social Post by President Donald Trump on Thursday.
Noem’s ousting comes as DHS remains shutdown and is at the center of a partisan funding fight on Capitol Hill.
In President Trump’s second term, other Cabinet officials have departed — including Mike Waltz, who served as national security adviser until last year in the midst of the “Signalgate” fallout. Waltz now serves as U.N. ambassador.
However, Noem is the first Cabinet secretary removed during President Trump’s second term.
The former South Dakota governor — chosen by the president to lead the DHSn— has faced growing scrutiny over her conduct, including reports of a romantic relationship with a top adviser and her handling of a major immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. That operation deployed thousands of federal officers and was linked to the deaths of two U.S. citizens during enforcement actions.
The announcement follows two tense days of hearings on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers from both parties pressed Noem about her leadership, including recent events in Minnesota. During the hearing, Noem did not apologize for previously describing the Minneapolis shooting victims as “domestic terrorists,” a claim critics say was not supported by video evidence.
Noem has also faced questions about a Homeland Security advertising campaign, prominently featuring her, and reportedly cost taxpayers more than $200 million.
Noem testified yesterday that the president was aware and approved the multimillion-dollar ad campaign — but the White House was quick to deny that claim.
In a Truth Social post this afternoon, President Trump said he’s tapping freshman Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to replace Noem.
“A MAGA Warrior, and former undefeated professional MMA fighter, Markwayne truly gets along well with people, and knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Advance our America First Agenda,” Trump wrote.
Mullin served in the House for a decade before he won a special election for Senate in 2022. He’ll still need to be confirmed by the Senate to assume the role permanently.
“I am super excited about this opportunity. It came at not a complete surprise, but it came in a little bit of surprise for us,” said Sen. Mullin, speaking with reporters Thursday afternoon. “The president, as you guys know, we’re great friends and we get along great. I look forward to working with him and his cabinet. Of course, we still got this little thing called confirmation and we’re going to get started on it right away.”
Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., said Mullin “has been a strong fighter” for the president’s border and homeland security mission. “I support his nomination,” McCormick said on social media.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who has called on Noem to resign in recent weeks, said Thursday that he would support Mullin in a confirmation vote.
“As a member of the Homeland Security Committee + Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Border Security: I’m not sure how many fellow Democrats will vote to support our colleague @SenMullin as the next DHS Secretary, but I am AYE,” Fetterman wrote on social media Thursday.
Other Democrats reacted Thursday, saying Noem failed the American people and her constitutional obligations.
“This was particularly true in how she oversaw ICE. Her departure demonstrates that if you don’t uphold the most basic American values, the American public wants you gone,” said Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.
In the Truth Social post this afternoon, President Trump thanked Noem for her service and announced she’d be assuming a new position.
“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, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland,’” Trump wrote.
