Trump says Kristi Noem will step down as DHS secretary, Sen Markwayne Mullin to take over
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, March 5, that Kristi Noem will step down as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the end of March after serving just over a year in the role.
Trump said he plans to nominate Markwayne Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, to replace her.
The president made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, while also confirming that Noem would move into a new administration position focused on regional security efforts in the Western Hemisphere.
Trump announces leadership change at Homeland Security
Trump said Mullin would assume the role of Homeland Security secretary beginning March 31, 2026, pending the necessary confirmation process.
“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.
He added that Noem “has served us well” and will take on a newly created position titled “Envoy for The Shield of the Americas.”
According to Trump, the role will involve leading “our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere.”
Noem previously served as governor of South Dakota before joining the administration.
During her tenure as Homeland Security secretary, she oversaw policies aimed at increasing deportations and tightening immigration enforcement, a central component of Trump’s political platform.
Her leadership has also drawn criticism from lawmakers in recent months.
During congressional hearings earlier this week, Noem faced questions over a $200 million advertising campaign that encouraged migrants living in the United States without legal status to voluntarily leave the country.
While testifying before a Senate panel, Noem said the president had approved the advertising campaign.
However, the White House later disputed that claim. “POTUS did not sign off on a $220 MILLION dollar ad campaign. Absolutely not,” a White House official said.
Reports say Trump was dissatisfied with Kristi Noem
The announcement of Noem’s departure came shortly after multiple media reports, including one from NBC, indicated the president had been discussing potential replacements with Republican lawmakers.
According to people familiar with internal discussions, the president had spoken with GOP members of Congress in recent days about his dissatisfaction and was weighing whether to make a leadership change at the department.
Several lawmakers said Trump was particularly displeased with Noem.
One Republican lawmaker, speaking anonymously because of the sensitivity of the conversations, said, “I can assure you he is not happy with her. She did horrible in the hearings and has made a lot of errors.”
Before the official announcement, several potential successors had reportedly been floated in preliminary discussions.
Among those mentioned were Sen Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Steve Daines of Montana.
The Department of Homeland Security defended her record in response to the reports. “Secretary Noem serves at the pleasure of the president,” a department spokesperson said in a statement.
“She is honored to serve the American people and lead DHS.”
With Trump now formally announcing the leadership transition and naming Mullin as his nominee, Noem is set to become the first Cabinet member to leave the administration during the president’s current term.
