Washington D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Kristi Noem from her position as Secretary of Homeland Security, a move that comes amid increasing scrutiny of her leadership and policies. The dismissal, announced on Thursday, March 5, 2026, marks the first time a cabinet secretary has been removed from their post during Trump’s second term.
Trump announced the decision on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that Noem will transition into a new role as Special Envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere. He described Noem’s previous work as yielding “exceptional results, especially at the border.” The initiative will be further detailed during a press conference scheduled for Saturday in Doral, Florida.
Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma has been tapped to replace Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security, effective March 31, 2026. Mullin is a staunchly loyal supporter of the President.
The move follows weeks of calls for Noem’s replacement from both Democratic and Republican factions, fueled by concerns over the deaths of two American citizens during arrests conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Noem recently faced questioning before the Senate regarding these incidents.
According to an administration official, the decision to remove Noem was the result of “a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures including the fallout in Minnesota, the ad campaign, the allegations of infidelity, the mismanagement of her staff and her constant feuding with the heads of other agencies, including CBP and ICE.” The official added that Noem’s “drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the Administration’s extremely popular immigration agenda, which will continue full force.”
This represents not the first instance of a Trump administration official being reassigned to a different role. Previously, Mike Waltz stepped down as National Security Advisor following issues related to the “Signal-gate” controversy.
Noem expressed gratitude to Trump for her new appointment on X, stating she looks forward to working with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to dismantle cartels and address security concerns in the Western Hemisphere. The development underscores the administration’s continued focus on border security and regional stability.
