05.03.2026 23:02
Donald Trump removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following his controversial sessions with Congress. Trump announced that Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin has been appointed to replace Noem. Noem was particularly criticized for the controversial immigrant operations conducted by ICE.
U.S. President Donald Trump made the first major cabinet change of his second presidential term. Trump announced that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem would leave her position at the end of the month and that Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin would take over the role.
ANNOUNCED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
On Thursday, March 5, Trump shared on his Truth Social account, "I am pleased to announce that the highly respected U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin from the state of Oklahoma will be the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security starting March 31, 2026."
NOEM WILL TAKE ON A NEW ROLE
Trump announced that Noem would be assigned to a different role within the administration. It was stated that Noem would serve as a special envoy for the new security program "America Shield," which will be announced in the Western Hemisphere.
In his post, Trump said, "Our current secretary Kristi Noem, who has served us for many years and has achieved countless and remarkable results, especially in border security, will be the special envoy for the new security initiative that we will announce in Doral, Florida."
Thanking Noem, Trump stated, "I thank Kristi for her service in 'The Homeland.'
This change marks the first major personnel shift in Trump's cabinet during his second presidential term, while Noem had been criticized particularly for the controversial immigrant operations conducted by ICE.
Noem had testified in two oversight sessions before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees on Tuesday and Wednesday regarding her leadership in the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the controversial operations, including the killing of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by ICE officers in Minnesota.