Homeland Security Kristi Noem Removed From Post
President Donald Trump has ousted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem from her position just days after a contentious hearing on Capitol Hill in which the embattled Noem came under fire. Here is the latest on this breaking news.
Kristi Noem Removed as Head of Homeland Security
President Trump announced the removal of Noem on Thursday afternoon via a Truth Social post. In the post, the president thanked Noem for her service and her "numerous and spectacular results." Noem will be moving on to serve as what Trump said was the "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere.”
The president detailed that he is nominating Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem. Trump said that Mullin would take over the role on March 31.
Noem has been serving as the leader of DHS since the beginning of Trump's second term. The former governor of South Dakota has been under increasing scrutiny in recent months for a variety of issues. In addition to Noem's controversial border security and immigration practices, she has been accused of engaging in a romantic relationship with her chief adviser while also being grilled for her choices in spending the massive amounts of money allocated to her department. For example, Noem has been criticized for her use of a private jet for government business as well as greenlighting an expensive ad campaign.
The controversy surrounding Noem and her leadership reached a fever pitch earlier this year when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents infiltrated the city of Minneapolis. The fatal shootings of American citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti on the streets of Minneapolis, as well as Noem's responses to the incidents, put Noem further under the microscope.
It had been reported in recent weeks that current and former DHS officials had been questioning how much longer Noem would remain as head of the agency. Just when things were settling down in Minneapolis, Noem made the decision to temporarily pause the TSA precheck process due to a funding lapse. While this decision was reversed in hours, her choice to spring this on the White House without approval left some members of the Trump administration upset.
Those close to the Trump administration reportedly knew that Noem was in trouble with Trump when he sent White House border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis in January, replacing Noem on the ground in the Twin Cities. The removal of Noem in Minneapolis was a sign that Trump was not happy with how she was handling the escalating situation.
The Final Nail in the Coffin for Noem?
Most recently, Noem appeared on Capitol Hill this week for two congressional hearings. Members of the GOP lobbed hard questions at Noem during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, signaling that there were cracks within the party with respect to Noem's performance.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said that DHS has been a "disaster" under Noem's leadership. Meanwhile, Republican Sen. John Kennedy grilled Noem about the DHS advertising campaign, pointing out how prominently Noem is showcased in the ads. Kennedy also confronted Noem about how much money was spent on the campaign during a time when the government is "scratching for every penny" and "fighting over rescission packages."
Although Noem said that the president approved the ad campaign when asked by Kennedy, Trump denied knowing about the plans during an interview with Reuters on Thursday morning.
What is Next for Noem and Mullin?
It is unclear what is next for Noem, as well as how the nomination for Mullin will proceed. Although Trump noted a newly created position for Noem in the Thursday announcement, other political experts are speculating that she may return to South Dakota for a run at the U.S. Senate.
Noem would need to obtain just over 2,000 signatures in order to qualify for the filing deadline at the end of March. Should she move forward with this plan, she would challenge incumbent Sen. Mike Rounds in the upcoming GOP primary on June 2. Rounds already has the endorsement of Trump to retain his spot in the Senate.
Noem posted on social media shortly after Trump made the announcement about the change of DHS leadership. In her post, Noem thanked Trump for the opportunity to serve in a new role.
Mullin has been serving in the Senate since being elected in 2022. He served for five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives prior to winning his seat in the Senate. Mullin has been an ardent supporter of Trump over the course of his tenure.
It is believed that Mullin has enough widespread support within the GOP to sail through the confirmation process. The former Mixed Martial Arts fighter has been instrumental in using his connections in both the Senate and the House in passing through Trump-backed legislation over the last year.
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