Trump Fires DHS Secretary Noem After Senate Grilling

President Donald Trump removed Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security on Thursday, March 5, 2026, following scrutiny over a $220 million ad campaign and questions raised during a Senate hearing. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) played a key role in bringing the issue to the forefront.

Kennedy’s Questions Spark Controversy

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Senator Kennedy questioned Noem about the department’s spending on a series of television commercials featuring her prominently. He specifically asked if President Trump had approved the $220 million expenditure. Fox8Live reported that Kennedy pressed Noem, asking, “Did the president know you were going to do this?”

Noem initially stated that the president was aware of the campaign, but President Trump later refuted this claim, telling Reuters, “I never knew anything about it.” Mediaite reported on this discrepancy.

Ad Campaign Details

The ad campaign aimed to encourage undocumented immigrants to leave the United States. The commercials featured Noem in various locations, including in front of a detention center in El Salvador, delivering messages about border enforcement. NOLA.com detailed the content of the ads.

Trump’s Decision and Replacement

President Trump announced his decision to remove Noem and nominate Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as the new head of the Department of Homeland Security. KPEL News reported that this move capped a week of controversial congressional testimony for Noem. Noem was reassigned to serve as a special envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a coalition of Latin American countries.

Broader Context

Noem’s removal also comes amid criticism of her department’s handling of immigration enforcement and responses to disasters in states like Texas and North Carolina. NOLA.com noted these additional factors contributing to the decision.