Noem Out, Mullin In: President Trump Fires DHS Secretary Kristi Noem After Political Fallout & Crisis in Leadership at DHS
President Donald Trump officially fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Thursday, March 5, 2026, making her the first Cabinet official to exit the administration in his second term. The ouster followed a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill where Noem faced bipartisan hostility during two days of grueling testimony. While the President framed the move as a transition, the timing and political climate suggest a departure rooted in both policy failure and personal frustration from the Oval Office.
The Catalyst: A Public Grilling and Private Friction
The official "last straw" appears to be Noem's testimony regarding a $220 million DHS advertisement campaign. During her hearings, Noem claimed under oath that the President had personally approved the massive spending for the self-deportation ads. However, President Trump quickly contradicted her, telling Reuters in an interview, "I never knew anything about it." This public discrepancy led to accusations from the White House that Noem was attempting to shift blame for an unauthorized and controversial expenditure.
Beyond the ad scandal, Noem’s leadership had been under fire for months following a series of high-profile tragedies. In early 2026, a federal immigration surge in Minneapolis led to the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Noem drew intense criticism for labeling the victims "domestic terrorists" before an investigation had even begun—a narrative that was later debunked by her own agency’s oversight reports.
Washington’s Reaction
Republican leaders, who are usually lockstep with the administration, were notably vocal in their disapproval of Noem. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) delivered a blistering rebuke this week, calling her leadership a "disaster" and citing a failure to properly manage FEMA resources following a major hurricane in North Carolina. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) also pressed her on the "Safe America Media" contract, pointing out that the firm receiving millions was founded just 11 days before being selected.
Upon the news of her firing, Tillis remarked, "I can't think of anybody I'd more proudly want to support to come in and clean up her mess." Meanwhile, Democrats like Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) stated that Noem had "failed the American people," noting that her removal was merely the beginning of necessary accountability within the department.
The Successor: Senator Markwayne Mullin
To fill the vacancy, President Trump announced that Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma will be the new Secretary of Homeland Security, effective March 31. Mullin, a staunch loyalist and former MMA fighter, is expected to bring a more disciplined "soldier" mentality to the department's mass deportation agenda.
In a social media post, the President thanked Noem for her "spectacular results" on the border and announced she would move to a new, less prominent role as a Special Envoy for the "Shield of the Americas"—a security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere. Noem, appearing at an event in Nashville shortly after the announcement, did not address her firing directly, though she later thanked the President on X for the new appointment.
