President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and nominated Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as her replacement on March 5, 2026, effective March 31 pending Senate confirmation. The move follows bipartisan criticism of Noem's handling of immigration enforcement, including deadly incidents in Minnesota and a controversial $200-220 million ad campaign. Noem transitions to Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas.
President Trump announced the leadership change at the Department of Homeland Security via a Truth Social post on Thursday, March 5. Trump praised Noem's service, citing 'numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!)', and noted her move to the new envoy role for a security initiative to be unveiled in Doral, Florida. "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 wrote. Noem responded on X, thanking Trump and looking forward to working with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth against cartels. Post-announcement, she spoke at a Nashville law enforcement conference, highlighting deportations without noting her reassignment.
Noem's tenure in Trump's second term faced scrutiny in a March 3 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and subsequent bipartisan questioning in House and Senate panels over Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis—where federal agents fatally shot U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good in January 2026—and a multimillion-dollar self-deportation ad campaign. The campaign, costing $200-220 million, was awarded with limited competition to a firm created days before the contract, subcontracting to a group connected to the husband of her former spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin. Noem testified that Trump approved the ads, though he later told Reuters he had no knowledge. She labeled Pretti's actions 'domestic terrorism,' sparking backlash; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., cited the killings, a mistaken arrest of a Hmong elder, and 50,000 peaceful protesters, noting two of three shooting fatalities that month were by federal agents.
Lawmakers also questioned disaster relief distribution. Following the incidents, Trump replaced Noem ally Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino with White House border czar Tom Homan, emphasizing targeted arrests and local cooperation, which eased tensions. DHS rank-and-file agents expressed relief, citing Noem's inexperience, border wall contract delays, and an alleged push to oust Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott. Noem's tenure saw 605,000 deportations and expanded detention.
Mullin, a Cherokee Nation member, businessman, rancher, former MMA fighter, and staunch Trump ally who joined the Senate in 2023 after House service (sitting on Appropriations and Armed Services), called the nomination 'humbling' and expressed excitement, noting his friendship with Trump. He anticipates challenges like from Sen. Rand Paul but was graded C+ by NumbersUSA on immigration. Lacking law enforcement experience, he must build trust with career officials.
Reactions were mixed: Republicans like Sens. Lindsey Graham and Thom Tillis backed the change; Democrats including Gov. Gavin Newsom called it Trump 'in retreat' and seek reforms like ending quotas. Klobuchar plans to oppose confirmation over policies but sees dialogue potential. DHS is in its third week of partial shutdown since February 14, furloughing or leaving unpaid hundreds of thousands. Polls show declining support: Trump's border approval fell from 49% (April 2025) to 40% (February 2026) per NBC; an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found nearly two-thirds believe ICE has gone too far.
