WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced March 5 he was firing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after lawmakers grilled her this week about a $220 million ad campaign that featured her prominently.
Noem's dismissal also followed protests nationwide against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which included the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.
Trump announced on social media that Noem would be succeeded by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, effective March 31.
"We're excited," Mullin told USA TODAY, after speaking with Trump.
Trump said Noem would become special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, his initiative for security against narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. Noem was speaking at a conference in Nashville when Trump made the announcement and she didn't mention it.
