WASHINGTON, 5 March 2026 – U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Markwayne Mullin will be nominated to lead the United States Department of Homeland Security, replacing outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem in a major cabinet reshuffle.
Trump said Mullin will take over the role effective March 31, 2026, pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
First Major Cabinet Shake-Up of Trump’s Second Term
The leadership change marks the first major cabinet reshuffle since Trump returned to the White House. Noem had served as Homeland Security Secretary since January 2025 after previously serving as governor of South Dakota.
Her tenure drew intense scrutiny from lawmakers following several controversies related to immigration enforcement policies and management decisions within the department.
Criticism escalated during congressional hearings that questioned her handling of immigration raids, the use of government funds for a large advertising campaign, and remarks about law-enforcement incidents involving U.S. citizens.
Noem Moves to New Security Role
Despite being removed from the top homeland security post, Noem will remain in the administration as “Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas,” a new initiative focused on regional security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.
The initiative is expected to address issues such as drug trafficking, migration and cross-border security threats.
Mullin Seen as Trump Ally
Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma and member of the Cherokee Nation, has been a close political ally of Trump and a strong supporter of tougher immigration enforcement.
Before entering the Senate in 2023, he served a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives. If confirmed, he will oversee a department responsible for border security, immigration enforcement, counter-terrorism, disaster response and cybersecurity.
Immigration Policy Likely to Continue
Analysts expect Mullin to continue the administration’s hard-line immigration agenda, which has been one of the central pillars of Trump’s domestic policy.
The Department of Homeland Security plays a key role in implementing border control policies, managing immigration enforcement agencies and coordinating national security efforts.
The leadership transition comes at a time when immigration, border security and international conflicts are dominating U.S. political debate ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
