Trump Replaces DHS Secretary Kristi Noem With Sen. Markwayne Mullin After Senate Criticism

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), marking the first Cabinet reshuffle of his second presidential term. The leadership change is scheduled to take effect on March 31, 2026, following growing bipartisan criticism of Noem’s performance during a tense Senate Judiciary Committee hearing earlier this week.

The decision came just two days after several Republican senators publicly criticized Noem’s leadership during Tuesday’s hearing. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) reportedly described her leadership as a “disaster,” arguing that she had failed to demonstrate the strong management expected from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to reporting from the Wall Street Journal, the hearing ultimately became the final turning point that prompted Trump to move forward with the cabinet change.

Despite the leadership shift, Trump praised Noem in a Truth Social post, highlighting what he called “numerous and spectacular results, especially on the border.” The president also announced that Noem will take on a new role as Special Envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a forthcoming Western Hemisphere security initiative expected to be formally introduced in Doral, Florida.

Noem’s short tenure at DHS was marked by several controversies that drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. One of the most widely discussed incidents involved the deaths of two American citizens in Minneapolis during an operation by federal immigration agents. Noem initially referred to the victims as “domestic terrorists,” a statement that triggered strong backlash and calls for an independent investigation.

Another major controversy involved a $220 million government advertising campaign promoting immigration enforcement policies. The campaign featured Noem prominently, including images of her riding a horse in a cowboy hat. Investigative reporting by ProPublica later revealed that a subcontract connected to the campaign was awarded to the husband of a former DHS spokesperson, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Republican lawmakers also expressed frustration with Noem’s handling of disaster response efforts and the pace of emergency funding distribution through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). At the same time, public support for Trump’s immigration enforcement policies declined in early 2026, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, following high-profile confrontations in several U.S. cities and the Minneapolis shooting incident.

Senator Markwayne Mullin, who will replace Noem pending Senate confirmation, has served 10 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and three years in the Senate representing Oklahoma. Trump described Mullin as a “MAGA warrior” who works well with people and highlighted his unusual background as a former undefeated professional mixed martial arts fighter. Mullin is also the only Native American currently serving in the U.S. Senate.

Although Trump indicated that Mullin would begin serving as DHS secretary on March 31, the appointment still requires Senate confirmation. The timeline has raised legal and procedural questions about whether Mullin can officially assume the role before confirmation and who may serve as acting Homeland Security secretary during the transition period.