Trump replaces Homeland Security chief
Markwayne Mullin tapped to replace Kristi Noem
U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary and announced that Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma will replace her, effective March 31; Noem will serve as “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.” The move, disclosed by Trump on social media moments before Noem was due to speak at a police union event she did not use to address her ouster, represents a major shift in the administration’s national security leadership and raises questions about the direction of its immigration agenda.
Noem’s dismissal follows intense controversy over her characterization of two U.S. citizens killed by ICE officers in Minneapolis as “domestic terrorists,” a claim undermined by video footage that later emerged. She defended her remarks during a heated Capitol Hill exchange with lawmakers, saying investigations remain ongoing while critics accused her of rushing to judgment and attacking law enforcement. The incidents prompted public backlash, a shift toward more targeted enforcement in Minnesota after months of aggressive immigration sweeps, and moves by House Democrats to impeach her; at least two Republican members of Congress also called for her removal.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries welcomed the decision. Mullin, who served a decade in the House before becoming a senator in 2023 and is a staunch supporter of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, must be confirmed by the Senate to assume the department’s top post. If confirmed, he would lead the Department of Homeland Security, a sprawling agency responsible for border protection, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, disaster response and counterterrorism, and oversee agencies including Customs and Border Protection, ICE, FEMA and TSA. Political analysts say the change could signal a move toward more aggressive implementation of immigration and border policies, while Democrats expressed concern the shift may further deepen partisan divisions over homeland security priorities.
