United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will replace Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Nome with Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump explained that he had reassigned Noem as special envoy for a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere, known as “Shield of the Americas.”
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The personnel change will be effective from March 31, he said. It marks the first major cabinet-level shake-up of Trump’s second term.
After leaving the Cabinet-level post, Trump praised Noem, writing that he had “served us well and had numerous and wonderful results (especially on the border!).”
But Noem has played a key role in some of the administration’s most controversial immigration policies, and his tenure at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has raised questions about government spending and conflicts of interest.
His announcement came a day after he faced a backlash from Democrats during congressional hearings this week, many of whom called for his resignation.
“DHS protects our residents and upholds constitutional protections. But you’ve turned that on its head. You’ve really turned the United States government against its own residents,” Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal said during Wednesday’s hearing.
“Yours is a case of failed leadership. Secretary, you should resign, be fired or impeached because you have no right to lead this agency.”
The announcement of Noem’s removal also comes as DHS continues to experience a partial government shutdown.
Democrats have resisted approving new funding legislation for the department in response to several fatal shootings involving immigration agents under Noem’s leadership.
Those shootings were brought up again this week during Noem’s appearance before the Judiciary committees in the Senate and House of Representatives.
For example, Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin has repeatedly accused Noem of launching a “smear campaign” against two US citizens who were shot and killed during interactions with immigration agents: Renee Goode and Alex Pretty.
“There have been three homicides in Minneapolis in 2026, and your agents committed two of them,” Raskin told Noam.
He highlighted comments made by Noem, who called Goode and Pretty “domestic terrorists,” despite evidence undermining the administration’s portrayal of the events that led to their deaths.
“Instead of working with state and local authorities to solve these homicides, you have blocked Minnesota investigators from crime scenes,” Raskin said.
“It smells like a coverup and makes me wonder who the real domestic terrorists are.”
Noem, formerly the Republican governor of South Dakota, was also scrutinized for a $220m ad campaign promoting border security.
The ad campaign shows Noem riding a horse near Mount Rushmore, a famous national monument in her home state.
News outlet ProPublica previously reported that the government contract for the campaign went to a Republican consulting firm with ties to senior DHS officials.
Nome has denied any wrongdoing, saying the bidding process was “competitive” and the deal was “all done correctly, all done legally.”
On Thursday, before announcing the staff change, Trump denied any connection to the ad campaign, telling news service Reuters he was “never aware of it.”
Noem was instrumental in the administration’s mass deportation push, and she often used rhetoric that vilified immigrants as dangerous and violent.
Although DHS’s mandate is on domestic security, Noem has made several international trips over the past year, including visits to Ecuador in July and November.
DHS chief Mullin has served as a US senator since 2023. He was a representative in the House for a decade before representing Oklahoma.
Trump also highlighted his membership in the Cherokee Nation, writing that Mullin, as DHS leader, is “a wonderful advocate for our incredible tribal communities.”
“Mark Wayne will work tirelessly to secure our borders, stop criminal immigrants, murderers and other criminals from entering our country illegally, end the scourge of illegal drugs and make America safe again,” Trump said Thursday.
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