WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Thursday removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following mounting criticism over her leadership of the Department of Homeland Security, including concerns related to immigration enforcement, disaster response, and agency spending.

Trump announced on social media that he plans to nominate Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin to lead the department. The decision came just two days after Noem faced intense questioning from lawmakers during congressional oversight hearings on Capitol Hill.

Trump also said Noem will be appointed as “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative he said would focus on strengthening security cooperation across the Western Hemisphere.

Shortly after the announcement, Noem appeared at a Department of Homeland Security event but did not directly address her removal from the Cabinet. Instead, she delivered prepared remarks that echoed several themes from the president’s recent State of the Union address.

Noem becomes the first Cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term. Her tenure leading the department had become increasingly turbulent as the administration expanded its immigration enforcement efforts and the agency faced heightened scrutiny from lawmakers and the public.

Frustrations surrounding Noem’s leadership had been building for months. Critics raised concerns about the department’s immigration enforcement tactics, including operations that drew protests in several cities. One incident that drew particular attention involved the shooting deaths of two protesters during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis, which prompted renewed debate over federal immigration policies and enforcement practices.

Members of Congress also questioned how the department managed billions of dollars appropriated by lawmakers. During hearings this week, several legislators raised concerns about spending priorities and oversight within the agency. Others criticized the pace of disaster relief funding distributed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency following recent natural disasters.

Another issue that drew scrutiny was a $220 million advertising campaign that featured Noem encouraging people living in the United States illegally to voluntarily leave the country. The campaign became a point of contention during congressional hearings, with lawmakers questioning the cost and approval process behind the initiative.

Noem told lawmakers during the hearings that the president had been aware of the campaign ahead of its launch. Trump later disputed that claim, saying he had not personally signed off on the advertisements.

The criticism marked a rare moment in which members of the president’s own party publicly challenged a Cabinet official during oversight hearings. Several lawmakers pressed Noem about policy decisions and the department’s handling of immigration enforcement operations, adding to the growing pressure surrounding her leadership.

Trump’s selection of Mullin signals a potential shift in leadership at the agency as the administration continues to prioritize immigration enforcement and border security. Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma and former business owner, has been a vocal supporter of the administration’s immigration and national security policies.

Mullin must be confirmed by the Senate before permanently assuming the role. Under federal law governing executive branch vacancies, he could serve as acting Homeland Security secretary while his nomination moves through the confirmation process.