US President Donald Trump has replaced Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and nominated Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin to head the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), marking a key leadership change in his administration.
Trump announced the decision on his social media platform, stating that Mullin would take over the department pending approval from the U.S. Senate. If confirmed, Mullin is expected to assume office later this month.
Noem, who previously served as governor of South Dakota before becoming DHS secretary, will move to a new role as Special Envoy for the “Shield of the Americas”. The initiative focuses on strengthening security cooperation across countries in the Western Hemisphere. Trump thanked her for her work at the department, particularly on border security and immigration enforcement.
The leadership change follows criticism faced by Noem in recent congressional hearings, where lawmakers questioned several decisions related to immigration policies and the management of programmes under the Department of Homeland Security.
Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma and a close ally of Trump, has been a vocal supporter of stricter immigration measures and stronger border controls. Before joining the Senate in 2022, he served multiple terms in the US House of Representatives. Prior to his political career, Mullin ran a family plumbing business in Oklahoma.
Trump said Mullin would help strengthen border security and continue the administration’s efforts to curb illegal immigration, drug trafficking and cross-border crime. His nomination now awaits confirmation by the Senate.
The Department of Homeland Security is one of the largest federal agencies in the United States. It oversees a wide range of responsibilities including border protection, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity and disaster response.
