Kristi Noem served as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Trump until her recent dismissal.
President Trump fired Noem on March 5, 2026, and named Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as her replacement, who will need Senate confirmation. Trump announced the move via Truth Social, praising Noem’s border work while transitioning her to a new role as Envoy for “The Shield the Americas” security initiative.
Noem faced backlash over two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minnesota in January 2026, a $200-220 million border ad campaign Trump disavowed, and her ties to aide Corey Lewandowski. Bipartisan criticism peaked during combative House and Senate hearings this week, with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) calling her leadership a “disaster.”
Republicans like Rep. Kevin Kiley issued statements on the firing, while Democrats such as Hakeem Jeffries said “good riddance.” Noem attended a post-firing event without addressing her ouster, maintaining composure.
