WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump dismissed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her position Thursday following intense scrutiny of her department’s performance on immigration enforcement and emergency response efforts.
The president announced via social media that Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin will be nominated to replace Noem, just two days after she endured harsh questioning from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
In his announcement, Trump indicated Noem would transition to serve as “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” describing it as a newly created security program concentrated on Western Hemisphere operations.
Shortly after Trump’s public statement, Noem appeared at a scheduled Department of Homeland Security gathering where she delivered prepared comments without acknowledging her removal, instead reinforcing points from Trump’s recent State of the Union address.
This marks the first Cabinet-level departure during Trump’s current presidential term. Noem’s exit concludes a controversial period leading the department amid widespread opposition and legal challenges to immigration enforcement strategies.
Her position became increasingly precarious following this week’s congressional hearings, where she encountered unusual but severe criticism from Republican representatives. Lawmakers particularly questioned a $220 million advertising initiative featuring Noem that promoted voluntary departure for undocumented immigrants.
During testimony, Noem stated Trump had prior knowledge of the advertising campaign, though Trump contradicted this claim in a Thursday Reuters interview, denying he approved the promotional effort.
The former South Dakota governor faced ongoing criticism throughout her tenure overseeing Trump’s strict immigration policies, particularly following fatal shootings of two demonstrators in Minneapolis by immigration enforcement personnel. Her department also drew scrutiny regarding its management of congressional funding allocations.
Growing dissatisfaction with Noem’s implementation of the administration’s immigration agenda — especially her response to the Minneapolis shooting incident involving two American citizens — combined with concerns over disaster management contributed to her removal. Both Democratic and Republican legislators criticized her performance during this week’s hearings on multiple fronts.
Beyond immigration matters, Noem encountered bipartisan criticism regarding delays in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding approvals and the administration’s overall disaster response coordination.
While Mullin requires Senate confirmation for the permanent position, federal vacancy legislation permits him to serve in an acting capacity as Homeland Security secretary during the nomination process.
