Trump Fires Homeland Security Head Kristi Noem, Names Mullin as Replacement

US President Donald Trump Announces Departure of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

In a social media post on Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that he will be replacing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem with Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin. The change is set to take effect starting March 31.

According to the White House, Noem has been reassigned as a special envoy for a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere, dubbed the “Shield of the Americas”. Trump praised Noem upon her departure from the cabinet-level post, stating that she “has served us well” and had achieved notable results, particularly in border security.

Noem’s tenure at DHS has been marked by controversy, including her role in the administration’s mass deportation push and her use of rhetoric that vilified immigrants. She has also faced criticism for her involvement in a $220m advertising campaign promoting border security, which was awarded to a Republican consulting firm with ties to senior DHS officials.

Noem played a key role in several high-profile incidents, including deadly shootings involving immigration agents under her leadership. Her appearances before judiciary committees in the Senate and House of Representatives were met with opposition from Democrats, who called for her resignation or impeachment.

The announcement comes as DHS continues to navigate a partial government shutdown. Trump denied any connection to the border security advertising campaign, stating that he “never knew anything about it”. Noem has maintained that the bidding process was competitive and that the contract was handled correctly.

Mullin will take over as the new head of DHS on March 31.

Source: Al Jazeera