WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Donald Trump removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her post Thursday after days of intense criticism over her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security. Trump said he plans to nominate Markwayne Mullin to replace her.
Trump announced the decision on social media and praised Noem’s work on border security. At the same time, he said she will take on a new role as special envoy for a security effort called “The Shield of the Americas.” The move comes after Noem faced harsh questioning from lawmakers about immigration enforcement, spending practices, and the department’s response to deadly protests earlier this year.
Trump said Noem delivered “numerous and spectacular results,” especially on border enforcement. However, her tenure became increasingly controversial in recent weeks. Noem faced two days of tough hearings on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers from both parties criticized her leadership of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Democrats accused the department of aggressive immigration tactics and civil rights violations. Some Republicans also raised concerns about the agency’s management and spending decisions. Trump decided to remove Noem from the cabinet after the hearings intensified scrutiny around her actions.
Noem learned about the decision shortly before attending a law enforcement event in Nashville, according to people familiar with the situation. She did not address the firing during the event. Later, she thanked Trump in a social media post and highlighted the department’s work during her tenure.
“We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again,” she wrote.
Trump said he will nominate Mullin to lead the department starting March 31. Mullin currently represents Oklahoma in the Senate and remains a strong ally of the president. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration will work with the Senate to confirm Mullin quickly.
“The administration looks forward to getting him confirmed as soon as possible,” she said.
Mullin told reporters he had spoken with Trump and expects to work closely with the White House. He said he does not know how quickly the confirmation process will move. Mullin previously served in the House of Representatives before winning a Senate seat in 2022. He has played an active role in negotiations among Republicans and has supported Trump’s legislative agenda.
Noem’s time at the helm of the Department of Homeland Security drew heavy criticism. Lawmakers questioned her handling of immigration enforcement and disaster response. She also faced scrutiny over the fatal shooting of two protesters in Minneapolis earlier this year. The victims, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, died during a chaotic confrontation involving federal immigration agents.
Noem described the victims as armed agitators after the incident. However, bystander videos and witness accounts later challenged that description. During a congressional hearing, Rep. Jamie Raskin accused Noem of spreading false information about the incident.
“You told a lie about them,” Raskin said during questioning.
Other lawmakers criticized immigration officers for using force during enforcement actions. They cited incidents where officers pulled people from vehicles or detained individuals in their homes. Noem defended her department’s actions. She said immigration agents focused on “the worst of the worst” and relied on intelligence to target dangerous individuals.
Lawmakers also questioned how the department spent billions of dollars allocated by Congress. The agency recently received about $170 billion to support border security and immigration enforcement. One major controversy involved a $220 million advertising campaign that encouraged migrants in the country illegally to leave voluntarily. Sen. John Kennedy said his research suggested that the contracts did not go through a competitive bidding process.
He also claimed that one company involved in the campaign was formed only days before receiving the contract. Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse called the spending “fraud” during the hearing. Noem rejected the allegations and said the campaign followed proper procedures.
Although Trump removed Noem from her cabinet post, he assigned her a new position focused on security cooperation across the Western Hemisphere. The initiative, called “The Shield of the Americas,” aims to strengthen partnerships with countries across the region.
Noem said the Western Hemisphere remains critical to U.S. national security. She said her new role will allow her to build on the relationships she developed while leading Homeland Security. Her departure marks the first cabinet-level exit during Trump’s second term and highlights growing tensions around immigration policy and government spending within the administration.
