Trump Fires DHS Secretary Noem, Names Senator Mullin as Replacement

From Ad Scandals to Shutdowns: The Tumultuous Exit of Kristi Noem and What It Signals for DHS

The beginning of the end arrived during a Senate hearing on Tuesday when Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about whether President Donald Trump had approved the $220 million advertising campaign spearheaded by her department. Noem’s sworn testimony: “Yes.”

The President promptly contradicted her. “I knew nothing about it,” he told Reuters.

Just one day later, Noem was out of a job. Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that he was removing the Homeland Security Secretary and replacing her with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin.

Why Was Noem Removed?

Noem had faced mounting pressure for months. Under her leadership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had been accused of aggressive and brutal tactics against immigrants in major American cities. In Minneapolis, ICE agents shot and killed two U.S. Citizens – Renee Good and Alex Pretti – in January. Noem, without evidence, labeled both as terrorists, despite video evidence contradicting her claims.

Images of masked ICE agents pursuing people through neighborhoods sparked widespread protests. Support for Trump’s hardline immigration policies reportedly fell from 49 percent in March 2025 to 38 percent, according to an AP poll.

Further issues included problems with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and costs exceeding $300 million for three new government jets. Republican Senator Thom Tillis publicly called the Secretary’s perform a “disaster.”

High-ranking government officials reportedly urged the President to remove Noem, including Trump’s influential Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles. “Border Czar” Tom Homan, the ICE chief who had been at odds with the Secretary for months, was likewise a driving force.

Homan took over ICE deployments in Minneapolis as the situation escalated. A government official told Politico, “Nobody is talking about the most secure border ever. Only about the shitshow that Corey and Noem are.” Corey Lewandowski, Noem’s special advisor, acted as her de facto chief of staff, controlling contracts, dismissals, and operational decisions.

The final blow came during this week’s congressional hearings, focusing on the $220 million ad campaign intended to encourage voluntary self-deportation of undocumented immigrants. The ads prominently featured Noem herself – including an image of her on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore.

What Does Noem’s Departure Mean?

Despite the criticism, the timing of Noem’s removal is unfavorable. The Department of Homeland Security has been in a shutdown since February 13th. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, responsible for airport security, are working without pay. FEMA is also hampered.

A leadership change adds to the pressure on Trump and his Republicans to quickly end the budget dispute with Democrats and get the agency functioning again.

The opposition could use this to push through their reform of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, including prohibiting agents from wearing masks and exempting schools, kindergartens, churches, and polling stations from raids.

Notably, Trump is staging Noem’s departure. In his first term, Trump fired five DHS chiefs within four years. Now, a different pattern emerges: Incompetent cabinet members are simply reassigned.

Trump announced that Noem will become the “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas,” a special envoy for a new security initiative to protect the Americas, which he will present on Saturday in Florida. Trump stated on Truth Social: “The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, has served us well and achieved numerous spectacular results.”

Trump behaved similarly in the “Signalgate affair”: When his National Security Advisor Mike Waltz sent secret information via the Signal messaging service, he wasn’t simply fired, but given a position as UN Ambassador.

Despite the personnel change, little is expected to change in American immigration policy. The mass deportations were largely conceived by Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and ICE chief Tom Homan – both remain in office.

Who is Noem’s Successor?

President Trump has chosen Markwayne Mullin to succeed Kristi Noem. The Republican from Tulsa, Oklahoma, has no background in law enforcement or national security. He also appears uncertain on the public stage, recently referring to Defense Minister Pete Hegseth as “President Hegseth.”

The 48-year-aged Mullin is a member of the Cherokee Nation, the largest federally recognized Native American tribe in the U.S., and was the first Senator of that heritage in nearly twenty years when elected in 2022.

Mullin’s career began not in politics: as a 20-year-old, he took over his father’s plumbing business and grew it into the largest in the region. He also competed in mixed martial arts, a combat sport combining elements of boxing, wrestling, and other disciplines.

Trump praised his new minister on Truth Social as a “MAGA Warrior.” Mullin is expected to officially take office on March 31st, but it remains to be seen whether the Senate will confirm his nomination quickly enough.

Mullin currently enjoys Trump’s favor, but Noem’s departure shows how quickly that can change. Loyalty only protects as long as it doesn’t jeopardize the President himself.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What caused Kristi Noem’s dismissal? Noem’s dismissal stemmed from a dispute over a $220 million ad campaign and her conflicting testimony with President Trump regarding his prior approval.
• Who is Markwayne Mullin? Markwayne Mullin is a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma who has been nominated to replace Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security.
• Is the DHS shutdown still ongoing? Yes, the Department of Homeland Security has been in a shutdown since February 13th.

What are your thoughts on the recent changes at DHS? Share your opinions in the comments below!

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