US President Donald Trump has announced that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will leave her post at the end of March, with Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin set to take over the role. The move comes after weeks of media reports describing internal conflict and management turmoil within the department under Noem’s leadership.
Trump announces leadership change
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Mullin would assume the position on March 31, praising the Oklahoma senator as someone who would take a hard line on border security and illegal immigration.
“Markwayne will work tirelessly to keep our border secure, stop migrant crime, prevent killers and other criminals from illegally entering our country, end the scourge of illegal drugs and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN,” Trump wrote.
The announcement follows recent reporting in the Wall Street Journal that portrayed the Department of Homeland Security as gripped by internal disorder during Noem’s tenure. Citing current and former US officials, the newspaper said her leadership had been marked by upheaval and personal rivalries.
Allegations involving advisers and staffing decisions
According to the report, Noem and her adviser Corey Lewandowski – with who she is said to be in a relationship – effectively sidelined career officials within the department. They allegedly pushed to grant weapons and official credentials to their own allies and exerted pressure on government lawyers, while officials who resisted were reportedly placed on unpaid leave.
Noem also closely monitored the frequency of her television appearances and demanded more invitations to broadcast programmes than the former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She was also said to have spent about $200m on an advertising campaign featuring herself, a move that reportedly angered Trump.
Noem has served as homeland security secretary since last January in Trump’s administration. Before joining the cabinet, she was governor of South Dakota from 2019 and represented the state’s at-large congressional district in the US House of Representatives from 2011.
