US President Donald Trump has announced the firing of his Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem. As Trump stated on his platform Truth Social on Thursday, Noem is to leave her post on March 31, 2026. She is the first cabinet member of the current administration to leave office early.
The reason for the personnel decision is considered to be, among other things, the recent events in Minneapolis, where two US citizens were allegedly killed by personnel from the immigration authority ICE. Noem subsequently came under considerable political pressure. Furthermore, reports about a costly advertising campaign by the department caused displeasure with the President. Critics accused the Secretary of not leading the agency effectively enough during a time of financial instability and political tensions.
The President nominated Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma as her successor. Mullin is considered a loyal supporter of Trump and is set to be responsible for the department's central agendas in the future, especially border protection and migration policy. The Department of Homeland Security is one of the largest agencies in the US and plays a key role in implementing the administration's plans for domestic security.
