President Donald Trump announced his dismissal of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem Thursday. Replacing her in the role will be Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., effective March 31.
In a statement to NBC News, an unnamed administration official revealed that Noem was fired as a result of “a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures including the fallout in Minnesota, the ad campaign, the allegations of infidelity, the mismanagement of her staff and her constant feuding with the heads of other agencies, including [Customs and Border Protection (CBP)] and [Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)].”
Some around the USC community were not shocked by her departure.
“Secretary Noem’s firing is no surprise,” said Christian Grose, professor of political science, international relations and public policy at USC in a statement to Annenberg Media. “Despite her attempts to be as loyal as possible to the President, her management and ability to lead the department was so damaged that the congressional hearings were the final nail in the coffin for her tenure at DHS and probably also for her career in public service.”
Noem was bombarded with tough questions from both Democrats and Republicans during a Senate Judiciary hearing Tuesday. Topics ranged from her early descriptions of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, her advertising campaign, criticism of the DHS’s deportation efforts, and her use of an executive jet for travel, which reportedly cost $70 million.
“I think it’s right to finally hold these people in power accountable for all of the polarizing messaging they’re putting out,” said sophomore Isaiah Sangkay. “[Noem] denies a lot of the claims that have been going on. It was right for Democrats and Republicans to grill her. Being able to hold her accountable can finally show some of the transparency the administration says they have.”
Noem will move forward in a new role as “Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” which Trump described in a post on Truth Social as a “new security initiative in the Western Hemisphere,” to be announced Saturday.
Mullin, a long-time supporter of Trump, needs to be confirmed by the Senate before officially stepping into his new position. However, he can serve as acting Homeland Security Secretary so long as his nomination remains formally pending.
“Trump is just trying to fill the office with as many people as he knows, rather than what’s politically correct,” said Ara Esfarjani, a sophomore majoring in computer engineering and computer science. “And the outcome is going to be favorable in Trump’s direction.”
As an acting member of the Senate, his departure from the role would open up a seat in the state of Oklahoma. Mullin responded Thursday on social media to his nomination.
“I am grateful to President Trump for nominating me to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” he said. “I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the Senate and carrying out President Trump’s mission alongside the department’s many capable agencies and the thousands of patriots who keep us safe every day.”
The 48 year old has served in Congress since 2013 and sits on multiple committees, including the Appropriations Committee, which allocates federal funds. The committee is involved in ongoing talks to fund DHS, which has been operating without annual appropriations funding since Feb. 14, according to NPR.