President Trump dismisses Kristi Noem, appoints Senator Markwayne Mullin as new Homeland Security chief amid immigration policy tensions.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has fired Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma will take over the powerful department on March 31.
Multiple media reports indicate Trump was upset with Noem’s handling of a recent large-scale operation against undocumented migrants in Minnesota. Federal immigration agents shot dead two Americans during that operation.
Trump was also reportedly angered by Noem’s Senate testimony this week where she said the president personally approved a $220 million DHS advertising campaign featuring her prominently.
Trump said Noem would become his special envoy for a new security initiative called “The Shield of the Americas.”
“(Noem) has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!),” Trump said.
He described Mullin as a “MAGA Warrior” who will be a “spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security.”
Mullin’s nomination will be subject to confirmation by the Senate, where Republicans hold a majority.
Speaking to reporters, Mullin said his focus will be “to keep the homeland secure.”
Noem, in a post on X, thanked Trump for her new position and cited “historic accomplishments” at DHS.
Democratic lawmakers welcomed Noem’s departure, with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer saying “Good riddance.”
Senator Dick Durbin said Noem “was the face of an unpopular, illegal, and outright dangerous mass deportation campaign.”
Senator Adam Schiff said it was “telling” that what seemed to get her fired was the “$220 million boondoggle” advertising campaign.
Noem faced bipartisan criticism at a Senate hearing earlier this week.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis called for her resignation, calling her leadership a “disaster.”
Democrats repeatedly asked her to apologize for the deaths of the two Americans in Minnesota.
Noem is the first member of Trump’s cabinet to be fired since he took office.
Her dismissal comes amid a partial shutdown at DHS, with Democrats opposing new funding until major changes are implemented to ICE operations.
