U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed Kristi Noem as head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the agency responsible for enforcing his administration’s strict immigration policies.
In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump announced that Markwayne Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, will take over leadership of the department beginning March 31, pending confirmation by the United States Senate.
Reports suggest Trump was dissatisfied with Noem’s handling of a recent large-scale operation targeting undocumented migrants in Minnesota, during which federal immigration agents fatally shot two Americans. The president was also reportedly unhappy with Noem’s testimony during a Senate hearing in which she stated that Trump personally approved a $220 million DHS advertising campaign that prominently featured her.
Despite the dismissal, Trump announced that Noem will serve as his special envoy for a new Western Hemisphere security initiative called “The Shield of the Americas,” which is expected to be unveiled on Saturday.
“Kristi has served us well and delivered numerous and spectacular results, especially on the border,” Trump said, while describing Mullin as a “MAGA warrior” who would be a “spectacular Secretary of Homeland Security.”
Trump added that Mullin would focus on strengthening border security, combating migrant-related crime, and stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
Mullin, speaking to reporters, said his priority would be to keep the country secure while building on the department’s existing efforts.
Meanwhile, Noem thanked the president in a post on X, highlighting what she described as “historic accomplishments” during her tenure at DHS. She claimed the United States achieved the most secure border in its history and that about three million undocumented migrants had left the country.
