Trump removes Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary after weeks of controversy

U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed Kristi Noem as secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, ending weeks of growing political pressure over her leadership of the agency and replacing her with Republican senator Markwayne Mullin.

The decision marks the first major personnel shake-up of Trump’s second term. The president announced the change in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, saying Mullin would take over the department starting on 31 March.

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Trump thanked Noem for her service, praising what he described as “spectacular results” particularly on border enforcement. He said she would instead become a special envoy responsible for a security initiative called the “Shield of the Americas,” which the administration plans to unveil in the coming days.

Replacement announced amid political pressure

Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma and a close ally of Trump, told reporters he had been informed of the decision only shortly before it was announced publicly.

“It’s humbling,” Mullin said, adding that the rapid development prompted him to call his father after learning he would join the president’s cabinet. “A little kid from west Oklahoma getting to serve in the president’s cabinet is pretty neat.”

Noem later acknowledged the move in a post on X, thanking Trump for the opportunity to lead the department and highlighting what she described as her record on immigration enforcement and border security.

The announcement came shortly before she addressed a group of police officials in Nashville. She did not publicly refer to her dismissal during the speech.

Bipartisan criticism over shootings

Noem’s removal follows weeks of bipartisan criticism over the conduct of federal immigration agents operating under the department’s authority.

The controversy intensified after immigration agents deployed in Minneapolis killed two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during separate incidents connected to protests against immigration enforcement. The shootings triggered intense scrutiny of the agency and demands for changes to rules governing the use of force.

Noem drew criticism after accusing both individuals of involvement in “domestic terrorism,” comments that critics said were not supported by the available evidence regarding their participation in demonstrations.

Senior Democrats welcomed her departure. Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, described her tenure as a failure, telling reporters: “Good riddance. She was a disaster.”

However, Jeffries said replacing the secretary alone would not resolve broader concerns about immigration enforcement policies. Democrats have been pushing for new guidelines governing the actions of immigration agents.

“We need a change in policy that has to be bold, dramatic, transformational and meaningful,” he said.

Funding dispute continues in Congress

The leadership change comes amid an ongoing standoff in Congress over funding for the Homeland Security Department.

The agency has been partially shut down since mid-February after Senate Democrats blocked a spending measure that did not include the new conduct rules they demanded following the Minneapolis shootings.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, said he remained skeptical that replacing the department’s leader would address deeper concerns about immigration enforcement under Trump.

“I don’t trust any one person being in charge of this agency as long as Trump is president,” Schumer said, arguing that structural issues within immigration enforcement agencies remained unresolved.

Controversies surrounding leadership

Noem’s leadership of the department had also been clouded by other controversies in recent months.

Reports described turmoil inside the agency and alleged she had a personal relationship with senior adviser Corey Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager who worked closely with her at the department. Both denied wrongdoing, with Noem dismissing questions about the allegations as “tabloid garbage” during congressional hearings.

Additional scrutiny followed reports about a proposed $70m aircraft intended for high-profile deportation operations, as well as spending linked to advertising campaigns featuring the secretary.

Some Republicans also began raising concerns. Lindsey Graham said he appreciated Noem’s service but supported the decision to replace her, stating that “it was time for a change.”

A prominent figure in Trump’s immigration crackdown

Before joining the cabinet, Noem served as governor of South Dakota and had been widely viewed as a rising figure in the Republican Party. She was once considered a potential vice-presidential running mate for Trump during the 2024 election cycle.

As homeland security secretary, she became a prominent public defender of the administration’s immigration crackdown. The department oversees agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol, which have played central roles in Trump’s mass deportation strategy.

Despite her removal, Noem is expected to remain involved in the administration through her new diplomatic role focused on countering transnational criminal networks in the Western Hemisphere.

Whether the leadership change will ease the political standoff over immigration enforcement and department funding remains uncertain as the debate in Congress continues.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 05.03 2026