Trump Fires Homeland Security Secretary After Congressional Grilling

Cabinet Shakeup Follows Bipartisan Criticism

President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, making her the first Cabinet secretary to leave during his second term. Trump announced he was ousting Noem and that GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma would replace her. Her performance at two congressional hearings this week is what cost her the job, sources say.

Noem's tenure looked increasingly short-lived after hearings in Congress this week where she faced rare but blistering criticism from GOP lawmakers. Trump made the announcement on social media after Noem faced a two-day grilling on Capitol Hill this week from GOP members as well as Democrats. The dramatic reversal caps off what began as a promising role for a close Trump ally who was tasked with implementing his signature immigration policies.

Spending Scandal and Minneapolis Controversy

One particular point of scrutiny was a $220 million ad campaign featuring Noem that encouraged people in the country illegally to leave voluntarily. A firm with ties to Noem and her former spokeswoman received the contract, which was awarded after skirting the competitive bidding process. DHS invoked a national emergency at the time, which allowed them to avoid the competitive bidding process.

Trump was critical of Noem when it came to her exchange with a Republican senator this week, when she was asked during congressional testimony about her role in approving contracts, particularly the $220 million ad campaign. She told Kennedy that Trump knew about her decision to approve the pricey ad campaign. However, Trump said "I wasn't thrilled with it. I spent less money than that to become president. I didn't know about it."

Noem faced criticism in January when she quickly accused two U.S. citizens fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis of "domestic terrorism." Videos that emerged after the deaths undercut the assertion by Noem and other Trump officials that the two deceased - Renee Good and Alex Pretti - were violent aggressors. Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin repeatedly accused Noem of launching a "smear campaign" against the two US citizens. "There have been three homicides in Minneapolis in 2026, and your agents committed two of them," Raskin told Noem.

Oklahoma Senator Steps Into Hot Seat

A member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin has been serving as the junior senator from Oklahoma since 2023. Before that, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 10 years. Mullin, a former MMA fighter, served for a decade in the House before he won a 2022 special election to the Senate. Mullin later said "I've got to be honest with you, I wasn't expecting the call today."

Mullin would need to be confirmed by the Senate, but under a federal law governing executive branch vacancies, he would be allowed to serve as an acting Homeland Security secretary as long as his nomination is formally pending. The announcement of Noem's removal also comes as DHS continues to weather a partial government shutdown. Democrats in Congress have blocked funding for DHS since mid-February, saying federal immigration enforcement must be reformed. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Noem's firing would not be enough to break the stalemate.

Political Implications and Path Forward

Trump explained that he had reassigned Noem to be a special envoy for a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere, dubbed the "Shield of the Americas". The move allows Trump to save face for a once-favored ally while distancing himself from mounting controversies that threatened to overshadow his broader agenda.

Her departure, after emerging as the face of an aggressive immigration crackdown that had grown unpopular according to recent polling, could allow Trump to reset his approach on immigration policy, a centerpiece of his agenda. A Trump official said "Kristi's drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the administration's extremely popular immigration agenda, which will continue full force." The rapid Cabinet change signals Trump's willingness to cut loose political liabilities, even close allies, when they become impediments to his broader objectives.