On March 5, 2026, United States President Donald Trump announced the removal of Kristi Noem from her position as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The announcement followed congressional scrutiny over a Department of Homeland Security advertising and public messaging campaign related to immigration enforcement and border security.
Lawmakers questioned DHS over approximately $143 million in contracts connected to the campaign that were reported to have been awarded without a competitive bidding process. The contracts were reported to have been issued to a company linked to a political operative.
According to information raised during congressional review, the company receiving the contracts was described as having no publicly listed headquarters and no operational website at the time the contracts were awarded.
Members of Congress from both parties raised questions about the procurement process, the structure of the contracts, and the relationship between the contractor and individuals connected to the administration.
Following the dismissal of Noem, Trump stated that United States Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma would be nominated to serve as the next Secretary of Homeland Security, subject to confirmation by the United States Senate.
Noem had served as DHS Secretary since January 2025 and oversaw immigration enforcement, border security operations, and federal emergency management programs during her tenure.
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