Donald Trump Fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem After Combative Congressional Hearings

President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and named Sen. Markwayne Mullin his preferred replacement.

“Former President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that U”

Advocate

He designated Noem as a special envoy tied to a new "Shield of the Americas" initiative.

Advocate

The move made Noem the first Cabinet secretary to leave in his second term.

Multiple outlets reported that Trump announced the dismissal on social media and positioned Noem for a new role as part of the administration’s hemispheric security push, framing the change as both a personnel and policy reorientation.

The firing followed combative and widely criticised congressional hearings in which Noem’s testimony angered lawmakers and reportedly "incensed" the president.

Reporters and lawmakers highlighted disputes over a controversial multi-hundred-million-dollar ad campaign, DHS spending, and Noem’s comments about killings involving immigration officers.

AL

Those exchanges, along with scrutiny of department contracts and internal conduct, were cited repeatedly as the proximate causes of her removal.

Trump moved quickly to name Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) as his pick to replace Noem.

“President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and announced he will nominate Oklahoma Republican Sen”

Boston Herald

Media reported that Mullin must be confirmed by the Senate but could serve as acting secretary while his nomination is pending.

Coverage flagged Mullin as a prominent contender despite controversies and gaffes noted by commentators.

The administration reportedly set an early start date for the transition.

Reactions to Noem’s ouster were split along predictable partisan lines: critics and Democratic leaders praised the move, while immigration hard-liners and some DHS officials defended her record.

Noem herself publicly thanked Trump and emphasised department accomplishments, even as local and national figures highlighted the political and operational fallout of her removal.

FOX 13 Tampa Bay

Observers tied the personnel change to larger political battles over immigration policy and DHS funding.

The leadership shift comes amid broader policy contests, including a DHS funding fight and a partial department shutdown.

“(CNN) — President Donald Trump said Thursday on social media he was pushing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem out of her position and would nominate Oklahoma Sen”

Local 3 News

The change is linked to the administration’s new Shield of the Americas initiative, and officials announced plans for a summit to unveil the effort even as Noem transitions to a special‑envoy role.

Local 3 News

Coverage noted operational claims from DHS under Noem about declines in border encounters, which supporters used to defend her tenure even as critics focused on spending, contracts, and testimony.