Kristi Noem is Out at Homeland Security, Trump Taps Markwayne Mullin to Replace Her [WATCH]

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will be leaving her position leading the Department of Homeland Security and will instead take on a new role within the administration, as reported by Fox News.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said he plans to nominate Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to replace Noem as secretary, with the change expected to take effect March 31.

Trump indicated that Noem will transition into a new role tied to a broader regional security effort.

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“The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere, we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland.’”

Mullin, who currently serves in the U.S. Senate, was praised by Trump in the same announcement.

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Trump said Mullin has done a “tremendous job” during his time in Congress and highlighted several aspects of his background.

“As the only Native American in the Senate, Markwayne is a fantastic advocate for our incredible Tribal Communities. 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,” Trump said.

Trump fires Noem pic.twitter.com/MC0r8m9jEy

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 5, 2026

Mullin is the first Native American senator in decades following the tenure of former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado.

Until Mullin is confirmed, the department may be temporarily led by Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar. Edgar, a Navy veteran and former mayor of Los Alamitos, California, is next in the agency’s line of succession.

Noem, 54, has served as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security during President Trump’s second term after previously serving as both a U.S. congresswoman and governor of South Dakota.

During her tenure, DHS oversaw several immigration enforcement initiatives tied to the administration’s border security agenda. The agency reported more than half a million pounds of illegal drugs seized during her first year leading the department.

The administration also reported significant immigration enforcement actions, including more than 2 million self-deportations in 2025 and approximately 670,000 removals of illegal immigrants.

The department also engaged publicly with critics of the administration’s immigration policies. Those critics included California Gov. Gavin Newsom; Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif.; Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz; and Maryland political candidate David Trone.

Trone had accused DHS of “executing people in the streets” in a protest advertisement filmed outside a facility in Williamsport that had recently been purchased to serve as a detention center.

Controversy also emerged during recent congressional hearings involving Noem.

During bicameral Judiciary Committee hearings earlier this week, Noem faced questioning regarding a taxpayer-funded advertisement contract. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., and other lawmakers questioned the arrangement during the hearings.

Reports surfaced Thursday indicating that Trump was dissatisfied with Noem’s handling of the issue during testimony, particularly after she suggested that he had approved the advertising contract.

According to reports, the advertisement had been subcontracted to a firm connected to members of Noem’s inner circle.

A White House official later told Fox News that Trump had not approved the ad campaign.

Sources familiar with the situation told Fox News that multiple issues contributed to the change in leadership.

“It was a combination of her many unfortunate leadership failures. From [Minnesota] to the ad campaign to the allegations of an affair,” a source said.

During the hearings, Noem was also questioned by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., regarding rumors of a relationship with Corey Lewandowski, who has served as a “special government employee” with DHS and previously played a key role in Trump’s 2016 campaign.

Kamlager-Dove asked Noem whether she had “sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski,” while criticizing Lewandowski as a “failed campaign manager” and questioning his experience.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., also pressed the issue while wearing a Justice for Cricket pin referencing a dog Noem once wrote she euthanized on her farm.

“I really think you need to say the word ‘no’ into the record so that you can clear that up,” Moskowitz said.

Noem rejected the accusations and criticized the line of questioning.

“The socialist, liberal left: you go off and you attack conservative women and you say that we’re either stupid or we’re sluts. That’s what you do. And I will tell you sir… I am neither of those,” Noem said.

She also told Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, that she was “shocked that we’re going down and peddling this tabloid garbage in this committee today.”

Despite the controversy, several Republican lawmakers voiced support for Noem during the hearings.

Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., praised her performance leading the department.

“Madam Secretary, you inherited a disaster, and you turned it around. An astonishing 97% decrease in illegal crossings isn’t a coincidence; it’s leadership. Know that this committee has your back,” Higgins said.

During questioning from Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., about the advertising contract, Noem pushed back.

She told the California congressman that while he was “focusing on photo-ops and luxury jets, I’m focused on the fact that the Coast Guard might not get paid because your party is choosing not to fund them.”

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