Breaking
March 5, 2026 · DHS Secretary Kristi Noem out — Sen. Markwayne Mullin nominated to replace her
US PolicyDHSDeveloping
CruxBuzz · March 6, 2026 · Updated 09:00 IST
President Donald Trump announced on March 5, 2026, that he will nominate Oklahoma Senator
Markwayne Mullin to lead the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
replacing Secretary Kristi Noem, who was dismissed the same day. This is the first Cabinet-level change of Trump’s second term — and it comes at a moment of acute pressure on the agency.
Two parallel crises had been building around DHS: a
no-bid $220 million advertising contract
that became the centrepiece of bipartisan congressional scrutiny, and the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens —
Renée Nicole Macklin Good, shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on January 7, and Alex Jeffrey Pretti, shot by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers on January 24 — during “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis. Noem’s public handling of both incidents, which included characterising the victims as aggressors and claiming Trump personally approved the ad campaign, eroded confidence in her tenure.
Trump, announcing via social media, called Mullin a “MAGA Warrior” and said he would assume the role by March 31, 2026 — a deadline that immediately raised legal questions under the
Federal Vacancies Reform Act.
DHS Leadership Transition — Click a Card to Learn More
Outgoing
Kristi Noem
Former DHS Secretary
South Dakota Gov.2025–2026
Last day: Mar 31
→
Nominee
Markwayne Mullin
Sen. Oklahoma (R)
Cherokee NationMMA 5-0
Pending Confirmation
Why Kristi Noem Was Dismissed
Noem’s 13-month tenure ended after a two-day congressional hearing in March 2026 exposed two major fault lines: her department’s handling of the Minneapolis shootings — in which she characterised the victims as aggressors — and a $220 million no-bid advertising campaign featuring her prominently. Trump disputed her claim that he had personally approved the ads. She will now serve as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas. As a parting note, Noem wrote: “We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again.”
Who Is Markwayne Mullin?
A 48-year-old enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin is currently the only Native American serving in the U.S. Senate. First elected to the House in 2012, he won a Senate special election in November 2022 and was sworn in on January 3, 2023. Before politics, he ran a multi-state plumbing business and competed as an undefeated professional MMA fighter (5-0). “There’s a lot of work we can do to get the Department of Homeland Security working for the American people,” he said after Trump’s announcement, per his official Senate biography.
Timeline of Events
How It Unfolded
January 7, 2026
Renée Nicole Macklin Good fatally shot in Minneapolis
A federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Good during “Operation Metro Surge.” Noem described Good as an aggressor. Bystander video later contradicted that account. The
Hennepin County Attorney’s office
subsequently issued statements on the incident.
January 24, 2026
Alex Jeffrey Pretti fatally shot in Minneapolis
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital and a U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by two U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers near the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 26th Street. The
Department of Justice
announced a civil-rights review. The number of federal officers in Minneapolis was drawn down shortly after.
Trump announced via social media that he was replacing Noem with Mullin, calling him a “MAGA Warrior.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration would work to confirm Mullin “as soon as possible.” Noem’s last official day was set for March 31.
March 31, 2026 (Projected)
Transition deadline — confirmation still pending
If the Senate does not confirm Mullin by March 31, federal law calls for the DHS Deputy Secretary to serve as acting head. Mullin cannot serve as “acting secretary” as a sitting senator without first resigning his seat, per 5 U.S.C. §3345. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt will then have 30 days to appoint a Republican replacement for Mullin’s Senate seat under Oklahoma state law.
Interactive Profile
Markwayne Mullin — Key Facts
48Years Old
5–0MMA Record
10Yrs in House
2022Elected Senator
Mullin grew up on his family’s ranch in Westville, Oklahoma, and left college at 20 to take over the family plumbing business after his father fell ill. He expanded it into a regional enterprise — Mullin Plumbing — and also founded Rowan’s, a restaurant in the neighboring town of Stilwell. He was inducted into the
Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.
Per his official Senate biography, Mullin was a state champion wrestler and briefly competed in professional MMA with an undefeated 5-0 record before entering politics. He was elected to the U.S. House in 2012 and served ten years before winning a Senate special election in November 2022; he was sworn in on January 3, 2023.
Mullin on Immigration
Mullin is considered a hardliner on immigration, closely aligned with the Trump administration’s enforcement agenda. Shortly after the Minneapolis shootings, he said the ICE officer involved “didn’t have an option” but to act, describing a vehicle as a deadly weapon.
“Why wouldn’t you send a child with their parents? I mean, why would you want to separate them?” — Mullin on NBC’s Meet the Press, on deportation of U.S.-born children of undocumented parents.
He also said in a CNBC interview that everyone should carry proof of citizenship in the event of a law enforcement stop: “There’s nothing to hide if you’re here legally.”
He has defended using lethal force by federal agents and has called for stricter enforcement. For context on the administration’s broader immigration framework, see CruxBuzz’s earlier coverage of
Trump’s border plans
and the
role of Border Czar Tom Homan.
Cherokee Nation & Tribal Identity
Mullin is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and is currently the only Native American serving in the U.S. Senate. If confirmed as DHS Secretary, he would be the first Native person to lead the department.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. noted that having a tribal citizen in the Cabinet is a mark of high esteem for the Nation. The nomination has been welcomed by Cherokee Nation leadership, who have expressed hope that Mullin’s background will inform federal decisions that affect tribal communities — including concerns about federal enforcement agents detaining tribal members.
Mullin is also the first tribal citizen to serve in the U.S. Senate in nearly two decades. His nomination is being watched closely in
Indigenous communities
across the country.
Political Career at a Glance
Mullin was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012 and served ten years. During the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, he helped officers barricade the House floor doors. He later said he told rioters he would confront them physically if they broke through.
In 2023, during a Senate hearing, Mullin challenged Teamsters boss Sean O’Brien to a physical fight after a testy exchange — an incident that drew widespread attention. He has served on the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee.
A $220 million contract was awarded by DHS to run advertising aimed at deterring illegal immigration. Contract records are accessible via USASpending.gov. The contract was awarded to newly formed entities, including Safe America Media LLC, which had ties to political consultants with connections to Noem.
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The Noem-Trump Dispute
During congressional hearings, Noem testified under oath that Trump had personally approved the campaign. Trump publicly contradicted her in a Reuters interview, saying he did not sign off on the ad deal. This public discrepancy between Noem’s testimony and Trump’s denial became a central flashpoint in her departure.
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03
Ethics Questions
Congressional investigations revealed that contracts were allegedly awarded without competitive bidding, with vendors flagged as having ties to political consultants close to Noem. The bipartisan nature of the scrutiny — with Republicans joining Democrats in pressing Noem — signalled an unusual breakdown of party-line protection.
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Aftermath
Trump dismissed Noem the same week as the hearings, describing her in social media posts as having “served us well” — while simultaneously reassigning her to the new “Shield of the Americas” envoy role. Trump also noted her “spectacular results” on the border. Noem later posted her thanks for the new appointment.
Under 5 U.S.C. §3345 (the Federal Vacancies Reform Act), a sitting senator cannot automatically become an acting Cabinet secretary. For Mullin to serve as acting DHS head before Senate confirmation, he would need to first resign his Senate seat and be appointed to a separate executive-branch position — a process legal scholars note is legally ambiguous. If he is not confirmed before March 31, 2026, the DHS Deputy Secretary would assume acting leadership. Thomas Berry of the Cato Institute’s Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies has described attempts to shortcut this process as “legally dubious.” The Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee will process the formal nomination.
Status Tracker
What Happens Next
Senate Confirmation Hearing
Mullin’s nomination will go before the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has already said he opposes the nomination. Democratic Senator John Fetterman has signalled he will vote to confirm, which could ease the path.
Oklahoma Senate Seat Vacancy
Once Mullin resigns, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has 30 days to appoint a Republican replacement under Oklahoma state law. The appointee must have been a registered Republican for at least five years and must vow not to contest the seat in the November 2026 election.
DOJ Civil-Rights Review — Minneapolis
The Department of Justice has opened a civil-rights review into the fatal shootings of Renée Nicole Macklin Good — shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on January 7 — and Alex Jeffrey Pretti, shot by two U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers on January 24. The Hennepin County Attorney’s office has also issued official statements. These proceedings will continue regardless of the DHS leadership change.
DHS Funding & Shutdown Status
The department has been operating under a partial shutdown for approximately 20 days, with many employees working without pay. Senate Republicans had privately signalled that Noem’s departure would help unlock a bipartisan deal to restore DHS funding. Democrats characterised this as insufficient, given the department’s core policy direction remains unchanged.
Noem’s New Role: Shield of the Americas
Trump announced Noem will become Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a new initiative focused on security in the Western Hemisphere. No details about the initiative’s mandate or budget have been formally released.
Reactions
What People Are Saying
White House
Karoline Leavitt, Press Secretary
“The administration will work with the GOP-led Senate to get Mullin confirmed to lead DHS as soon as possible.”
Support
Outgoing Secretary
Kristi Noem (Social Media Post)
“We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again.”
Statement
Senate Democrats
Sen. Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader
Schumer announced a “resounding NO” to the Mullin nomination in the Senate.
Oppose
Minneapolis City Hall
Mayor Jacob Frey
Wrote “good riddance” publicly in response to Noem’s departure.
Critical
Senate Democrats (Bipartisan Signal)
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
Has signalled he will vote in favour of confirming his Senate colleague to lead DHS.
Support
Immigration Advocacy
Vanessa Cárdenas, America’s Voice
“This is not accountability, just a reshuffling of the enablers of the agenda of President Trump.”
Oppose
The Department of Homeland Security is in the process of a leadership transition from Secretary Kristi Noem to Senator Markwayne Mullin. The change follows sustained congressional scrutiny over the department’s conduct during federal immigration operations in Minneapolis — including the January 7 fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Macklin Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, and the January 24 fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers — and the circumstances surrounding a
$220 million no-bid advertising contract.
This piece covered the events leading to Noem’s dismissal, the background on Mullin’s nomination, the key legal constraints surrounding the transition, and the outstanding political and legal proceedings connected to DHS’s operations over the past several months. For background on the immigration policy context, see CruxBuzz’s earlier coverage of
Noem’s original appointment
and the role of Border Czar Tom Homan.
