Trump ousts Noem as DHS secretary
Senator Mullin tapped as replacement
By: Bart Jansen
and Zachary Schemele
USA Today
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced March 5 [2026] he was replacing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
.....
He said on social media that Noem would be succeed by Sean tor Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, effective March 31. [2026] Noem will become special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, trump's initiative for security against narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.
..... Mullin, a member of the Cherokee Nation, is a cattle rancher has served 10 years in the House and three in the Senate. Trump called the former undefeated Mixed Martial Arts fighter a "MAGA" warrior."
..... Asked whether he's considering reforms, Mullins said he wants to "get the Department of Homeland Security working for the American people."
..... "It's an honor to be nominated," he said. "We've got the nomination process."
..... Noem was speaking at the Major cities Conference in Nashville when Trump made the announcement. She did not address her ouster.
..... The news seemed to shock senators of both parties.
..... Senator Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, said he needed time to consider whether to support Mullin's confirmation.
..... "I don't know," Murphy said. I literally heard about it two seconds ago."
..... "Give me time to procession," said Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
..... Asked if he supported Trump firing Noem, Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, said, "It's not my call."
..... The Department of Homeland Security is partially shut down because of a dispute in Congress over Trump's immigration crackdown. Democrats have demanded policy changes.
..... Senator Richard Blunenthal, D-Connecticut, said the decision to remove Noem may "well enable" Democrats to support ending the shutdown. But he said that will still only happen if the White House agrees to significant reforms of the agency such as ban on mask-wearing for agents.
..... Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said the problems at the department are due to policy, not personnel.
..... "The president has fired Kirsti Noem. good riddance," Schumer said. "The rot is deep. The president has to end the violence and rein in ICE."
..... Noem has been the face of Trump's controversial immigration enforcement efforts and a lightning rod for criticism. Calls for her removal have been growing since the chaotic events that unfolded in Minneapolis earlier in 2026, when federal agents shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Over the two days before Trump's announcement, Noem faced harsh questioning at the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary Committee about many of her moves. Noem refused to apologize to the families of Pretti and Good for labeling them domestic terrorists. democratic lawmakers at the hearing introduced U.S. citizens who have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, pressing Noem for details.
..... Contributing: Christopher Cann, Mary Walrath-Holdridge and Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today