Trump Dismisses DHS Secretary Noem, Nominates Mullin

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has dismissed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and nominated Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, to replace her as head of the Department of Homeland Security. The leadership change will take effect on March 31, with Noem transitioning to a new role as special envoy for the administration's Shield of the Americas initiative, aimed at enhancing security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.

Trump praised Noem's tenure in a social media post, highlighting her efforts on border security and immigration enforcement. However, her time in the position drew widespread criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans over aggressive immigration policies and operational missteps. The nomination comes amid ongoing congressional scrutiny of the department, including recent hearings where lawmakers questioned Noem's decisions.

A key flashpoint has been a January incident in Minneapolis, where federal immigration agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, during operations targeting anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters. Details of the shootings remain limited, with public...