U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a major change to his administration’s national security leadership, confirming that Kristi Noem will step down as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security and be replaced by Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin.
In a post on Truth Social Trump said Noem had delivered “numerous and spectacular results” during her tenure, particularly in advancing the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda. He said she would now take up a newly created position as Special Envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” a security initiative focused on strengthening cooperation across the Western Hemisphere.
Trump described the new role as part of a broader regional security strategy aimed at addressing transnational threats, including organised crime, border security challenges, and drug trafficking networks.
Noem later responded publicly on X, thanking Trump for the appointment and signalling that her new role would centre heavily on anti-cartel operations. She said she looked forward to working closely with Marco Rubio and senior defence officials to dismantle criminal organisations responsible for narcotics entering the United States.
“We have made historic accomplishments at the Department of Homeland Security to make America safe again,” Noem wrote, while describing the administration’s security record as a major achievement.
Mullin’s appointment places another close Trump ally into a key cabinet-level position as the administration continues reshaping its national security and border enforcement team.
