Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem replaced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin
Noem had come under recent scrutiny for her management of the Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agency and testimony at Capitol Hill about the Minneapolis murders of activists, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
by Alaina Coats
March 5, 2026
President Trump released Kristi Noem from her duties as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security just a day after she gave testimony defending the actions of U.S. ICE agents who murdered activists Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
On March 3 and March 4, Noem testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee and described Good and Pretti as "agitators" and "domestic terrorists" who she believed stood in the way of ICE agents doing their jobs. She based her claim on "reports" that she had received on the ground. Noem's comments evoked strong emotions from Democrats and Republicans. Sources close to the president say that her testimony prompted Donald Trump to remove Noem from her duties. President Trump announced his decision to replace Noem with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin on Truth Social.
"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," President Trump wrote.
He thanked Noem for her service as DHS Secretary and shared that she would be moving to a new agency and new position as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.
Former Secretary Noem accepted President Trump's decision on X.
"The Western Hemisphere is absolutely critical for U.S. security," Noem said. "In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security."
Noem's new role that President Trump said will be further explained on March 7 may be tied to the "Trump Corollary," the president's mission to revive the 1823 Monroe Doctrine and exert U.S. authority over the Western Hemisphere.
On February 14, Congress shutdown DHS and ICE because of concerns about Noem's alleged mishandling of department funds. Noem had come under fire for running a $220 million campaign ad urging immigrants to self-deport. Her handling of the border and the way people were removed from the country was a very controversial issue.
As a result of DHS being closed, pundits have been concerned about funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which is responsible for responding to natural disasters across the nation.
Former Secretary Noem is the first secretary to be removed by Trump during his current administration.
The president's decision comes as the country is in intense battle in the Middle East. The U.S. military has successfully dismantled what it believes to have been an Iranian nuclear weapons program aimed at harming the United States and Israel. The war has claimed the life of the Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
