Trump replaces Noem as DHS secretary with Oklahoma senator

President Donald Trump announced March 5 that he was replacing Kristi Noem as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary with Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, marking the first major shake-up of his Cabinet in his second term.

“I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Trump said that Noem had served in her role well and would be moving to serve as special envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere that will be unveiled in Doral, Florida, on March 7.

Mullin, whom Trump said has done a “tremendous job” in Congress, has been in the Senate since 2023 and previously served in the House. 

“As the only Native American in the Senate, Markwayne is a fantastic advocate for our incredible Tribal Communities,” Trump said on social media. “Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”

Speaking to reporters shortly after Trump’s announcement, Mullin said he and the President are “great friends” and that he is excited to “get started right away.” 

“It’s pretty humbling when you think about it,” he also said. “A little kid from Westville, Oklahoma gets to serve in the President’s cabinet? That’s pretty neat.” 

In an X post shortly after the news, Noem thanked Trump for appointing her to the new special envoy role and said she looks “forward to working with them closely to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren.”

Noem’s removal comes after months of speculation about whether she might be removed from her post amid intense public scrutiny. FOX News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich reported that an administration official said Trump’s decision to remove Noem was “a combination of her many unfortunate leadership failures, from Minnesota to the ad campaign to allegations of an affair.” 

Noem first faced criticism over tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, particularly after the deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Both individuals were fatally shot by federal agents in January during protests of immigration operations in Minnesota. Noem called Good and Pretti “domestic terrorists,” sparking public scrutiny. At tense bicameral hearings March 3-4, Noem faced bipartisan questions about the issue.

She also faced criticism during the hearings over a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign she oversaw that urged anyone in the U.S. illegally to self-deport and featured her prominently. Trump told Reuters March 5 that he did not sign off on the campaign. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., accused Noem of using the ad campaign primarily to boost her “name recognition.” 

During the House hearing, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., also asked Noem about rumors of an affair with DHS “special government employee” Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s first campaign manager in 2016. Noem responded that she was “shocked that we’re going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee.” 

FOX News reported that Noem will likely be “at least temporarily replaced” by Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar, a Navy veteran and former mayor of Los Alamitos, California, until Mullin takes over.