Trump Replaces Noem with Senator Mullin as Homeland Security Chief Amid Spending Dispute

2026-03-06 politics

Washington D.C., Thursday, 5 March 2026.
President Trump ousted Kristi Noem after publicly disputing her claim that he authorized a $220 million ad campaign, swiftly naming Senator Markwayne Mullin as her successor.

Cabinet Shakeup Following Contentious Testimony

President Donald Trump announced on March 4 that Kristi Noem will depart her post as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026 [1][2]. The President simultaneously named Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as her replacement, citing Mullin’s tenure in Congress and alignment with the administration’s agenda [6]. This development serves as a significant escalation following the events detailed in our previous report, “Bipartisan Pressure Mounts on Secretary Noem Amid DHS Funding Standoff,” where Noem faced bipartisan backlash for refusing to retract “domestic terrorism” labels applied to deceased U.S. citizens during a heated Senate hearing [3].

Disputed Advertising Contracts

The catalyst for Noem’s removal appears to be a public dispute regarding a taxpayer-funded advertising initiative. During testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week, Noem defended a $220 million ad campaign intended to encourage voluntary deportation, asserting that President Trump had personally approved the expenditure [1][2]. However, the White House swiftly contradicted this claim, with officials stating the President “did not sign off” on the campaign [2]. President Trump later publicly rebuked the claim, stating, “I never knew anything about it” [6]. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), who questioned Noem extensively on the spending, reported that the President called him following the hearing to express his displeasure, noting that the President was “not a happy cowboy” regarding the discrepancy in recollections [1].

Mullin Tapped for DHS Leadership

Senator Markwayne Mullin, a former professional MMA fighter who served 10 years in the House and three in the Senate, has been selected to stabilize the department [6]. President Trump praised Mullin as a “MAGA Warrior” who would work to secure the border and stop migrant crime [6]. While Noem is exiting the DHS role, she will remain within the administration’s orbit; the White House announced she will transition to a new position as a special envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a security initiative for the Western Hemisphere expected to be formally announced on March 6 [2][6].

Ongoing Funding Stalemate

The leadership change occurs during a critical operational window for the DHS, which has been operating under a partial shutdown since funding expired on February 13, 2026 [8]. The lapse has affected key agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard [5][8]. The political environment remains volatile following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, an event that triggered the initial bipartisan calls for Noem’s resignation and the subsequent freeze on departmental funding by Congress [1][6]. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), who had previously called for Noem to step down, expressed support for the transition, stating he could not think of anyone he would “more proudly want to support to come in and clean up her mess” [1].

Sources

Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin