President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is removing Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and nominating Markwayne Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, to replace her.

The move comes after a week of political turbulence surrounding Noem’s congressional testimony and controversy over a taxpayer-funded advertising contract.

Trump Announces New Role for Noem

Trump revealed the decision on Truth Social, saying Noem would transition into a new diplomatic security position instead of continuing at the department.

“The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well… will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere.”

The initiative is expected to be formally unveiled at an event in Doral, Florida.

In her first statement after the announcement, Noem thanked Trump and said she looked forward to continuing work on security issues alongside officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

She emphasized the new role would focus on combating drug cartels and strengthening security partnerships across the Western Hemisphere.

Mullin Surprised by Nomination

Trump said Mullin was chosen because of his close relationship with the administration and his background.

“Markwayne will work tirelessly to keep our border secure, stop migrant crime, and end the scourge of illegal drugs,” Trump wrote.

Mullin, a former undefeated MMA fighter and one of the few Native American members of the Senate, appeared caught off guard by the announcement.

Speaking to reporters outside the Senate chamber, he joked:

“I think I need to talk to my wife first.”

Mullin will still need confirmation from the Senate before officially taking over the role.

Controversy Surrounding Noem’s Testimony

Reports suggest Trump’s decision was influenced by Noem’s performance during congressional hearings earlier in the week.

During questioning from Louisiana Senator John Kennedy, Noem said Trump had approved a taxpayer-funded advertising contract tied to a firm connected to people in her political circle.

However, a White House official later confirmed that Trump had not approved the ad, contradicting her testimony and reportedly angering the president.

Immigration Crackdown Under Noem

Despite the controversy, Noem’s tenure was marked by aggressive immigration enforcement policies following the previous administration under former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

According to DHS figures cited by the administration:

• More than 670,000 illegal immigrants were removed

• Roughly 2 million migrants self-deported in 2025

• Over 500,000 pounds of illegal drugs were seized

Supporters hailed those numbers as evidence of the most successful immigration enforcement effort in U.S. history.

Temporary Leadership

Until Mullin is confirmed, Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar, a Navy veteran and former mayor of Los Alamitos, California, is expected to temporarily lead the department.

The leadership shakeup comes as immigration enforcement, border security, and cartel violence remain among the administration’s top national security priorities.