Kristi Noem was fired as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by President Donald Trump on March 5, 2026.This marked the first Cabinet-level firing in Trump’s second term. The decision followed mounting frustrations.
This marked the first Cabinet-level firing in Trump’s second term. The decision followed mounting frustrations within the White House, among GOP lawmakers, and from public scrutiny over her leadership.Key reasons cited across multiple reports include: A culmination of leadership failures of ICE and controversies that made her a distraction to the administration’s agenda (particularly immigration enforcement).
Intense bipartisan criticism during recent congressional hearings (especially a Senate Judiciary Committee session), where she faced grilling from both Democrats and Republicans (including Sen. John Kennedy) over issues like:A $220 million taxpayer-funded border security ad campaign that prominently featured Noem herself (e.g., on horseback in front of Mount Rushmore). Questions arose about no-bid contracts, potential conflicts of interest, fraud, corruption, and whether funds improperly went to consultants tied to her circle. Noem’s claim during testimony that Trump had personally approved it reportedly infuriated him (he denied it), serving as a major tipping point.
Other ongoing issues that eroded support:Her handling of immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, where federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens (Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good/Macklin). Noem quickly labeled them “domestic terrorists” before full investigations, drawing backlash even from some Republicans.
Allegations of an improper romantic relationship with a top adviser (Corey Lewandowski).
Mismanagement, staff feuds (e.g., with CBP/ICE heads or the Coast Guard), slow disaster response (e.g., Texas floods), obstructing DHS Inspector General investigations, and other missteps like briefly pausing TSA PreCheck.
Broader optics problems, including her self-promotion and drama overshadowing policy priorities.
While her past personal controversies (like the 2024 memoir admission of shooting her dog) resurfaced in hearings and commentary, they weren’t the primary driver of the firing—reports emphasize recent DHS-specific scandals and the ad campaign testimony as the breaking point.Trump announced the move on social media, nominating Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) as her replacement. Administration sources described her tenure as tumultuous and a liability despite initial closeness to Trump.