What happened?
On March 5th, 2026, Donald Trump fired Kristi Noem from her position as Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Chief. This is the first Senate-confirmed member of the Trump Administration’s Cabinet to be removed this term. However, in Trump’s first term in office, 14 confirmed Cabinet appointees quit or were fired. Sworn in January of 2025, Kristi Noem is largely considered one of the most high-profile Cabinet secretaries.
Before her position as DHS Secretary, she was the governor of South Dakota in 2018. Noem has been a controversial figure since. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she repeatedly opposed state-wide mask mandates. Furthermore, her DHS tenure is defined by a mass deportation agenda. She also faced severe backlash against her response to two federal agents shooting and killing two protesters in Minnesota, Alex Pretti and Nicole Renee Good. In response, she characterized the individuals as “domestic terrorists,” and even refused to recant the statement in a recent congressional hearing.
Why was she fired?
That recent congressional hearing is one of multiple reasons for her firing. Republican Senator John Kennedy (R) told reporters that Donald Trump was reportedly displeased with Noem’s answers to questions and bipartisan criticism in the congressional hearing over a $220 million campaign ad about immigration. Trump told Reuters that he had not signed off on that campaign itself. In a Truth Social post, however, Trump did thank Noem for her service as DHS secretary.
Who is her replacement?
Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin has been named by Trump as Kristi Noem’s replacement. A first-term Senator serving since 2023, Mullin, like Noem, is an avid supporter of the Trump Administration’s immigration policy.
He is also an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, meaning he is the first tribal citizen to serve in the US Senate in over a decade. For this reason, many tribes are encouraged by Trump’s choice, especially given Kristi Noem’s reputation for breaking treaties. Most tribes have even banned Noem from their reservations.
Many supporters of the Trump Administration view Mullin as a strong loyalist who will keep the country safe. Senator Tom Tillis (R), who scolded Noem for poor leadership at the recent congressional hearing, even recently came out to show his support for Mullin.
At the same time, many Americans are concerned about Trump’s choice of Mullin because of his combative nature and loyalty to the Trump administration. During a 2023 Senate hearing, Senator Mullin challenged Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to a physical fight, for example. Also, like Noem, Mullin is an avid supporter of Trump’s controversial policies regarding immigration. Both Noem and Mullin support ending birthright citizenship, and Mullin even made a controversial statement to CNBC recently, saying that everyone should carry proof of citizenship at all times.