How Kristi Noem's Controversial Run at US Homeland Security Ended

President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time), announced on Truth Social that Kristi Noem was removed as Secretary of Homeland Security, making her the first Cabinet secretary to exit in his second term.

The decision followed a grueling two-day period of testimony where the former South Dakota governor faced intense scrutiny from both Senate and House Judiciary Committees regarding departmental expenditures and the conduct of recent immigration operations.

Here is a full account of what happened.

The Rise of Noem at the Department of Homeland Security

Kristi Noem, a former two-term governor of South Dakota, built her political reputation on a hardline stance on immigration and close alignment with Trump.

She was confirmed as homeland security secretary in January 2025 with a 59-34 Senate vote, tasked with leading DHS's effort to arrest, detain, and deport one million people without legal status per year.

What Did the $220 Million Ad Campaign Controversy Involve?

A $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign featuring the former governor, which encouraged undocumented people to leave voluntarily, became a central flashpoint.

She told lawmakers Trump was aware of it in advance. Trump disputed that in an interview with Reuters, saying he did not sign off on it.

That contradiction, made under oath, became the defining moment of the Kristi Noem controversy.

How Did the Minneapolis Operation Damage Her Standing?

Further damaging her leadership was a bipartisan wave of criticism regarding an immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis, an operation that involved the deployment of 3,000 officers and resulted in the deaths of two United States citizens.

The political fallout intensified when Noem labeled 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was killed by Border Patrol agents, as a domestic terrorist before any formal investigation had even commenced, a move that drew sharp rebukes from many within her own party.

Allegations of Internal Mismanagement and Luxury Spending

Beyond the public-facing operations, reports of deep-seated dysfunction within the agency continued to surface throughout her tenure.

The department faced a three-week shutdown that forced the furlough of essential cybersecurity staff, while simultaneous reports from Axios alleged that Noem utilized border enforcement funds to acquire two Gulfstream G700 luxury jets.

Internal friction was further exacerbated by her pursuit of a $70 million Boeing 737, an acquisition characterized by one senior administration official as the world’s worst deal, alongside complaints regarding the influence of adviser Corey Lewandowski in personnel decisions.

A Fractured Republican Consensus

The two days of congressional testimony highlighted significant divisions among Republicans, with even longtime allies appearing hesitant to offer their full support.

Senator Lindsey Graham provided a non-committal response when asked about his confidence in her leadership, while Senators Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski, both of whom had supported her confirmation just a year prior, were among the most prominent voices calling for her resignation.

A Record Defined by High Enforcement and High Controversy

While her tenure was cut short, supporters of the former governor highlight a record that includes 605,000 deportations and a historic peak in immigration detention numbers.

Data from the department suggests significant activity in drug interdictions and enforcement during her leadership, though these milestones have been largely eclipsed by the series of management and policy scandals that ultimately led to her dismissal.

The Nomination of Markwayne Mullin and the Path Forward

In the wake of Noem's departure, the President nominated Senator Markwayne Mullin, a member of the Cherokee Nation, to assume leadership of the department on March 31.

In his initial remarks to the press, Mullin suggested a desire for a strategic reset by acknowledging the need to build upon previous efforts that may not have gone according to plan.

Despite the change in personnel, the administration has signaled that its core immigration agenda remains unchanged, with Noem being moved to a new role as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.

(With inputs from yMedia)