President Donald Trump announced a major change within his administration on March 5, 2026, confirming that Kristi Noem would no longer serve as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The decision marked the first cabinet-level shakeup of Trump’s second presidential term and represented one of the most significant leadership changes since he returned to the White House. In a public statement, Trump revealed that he had selected Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace Noem, with the transition expected to take effect on March 31, pending confirmation by the United States Senate.

Trump described Mullin as a respected lawmaker who strongly supports the administration’s border security agenda and praised his loyalty to the administration’s broader policy goals. At the same time, the president thanked Noem for what he described as her strong performance on border enforcement, noting that she had produced “numerous and spectacular results.” Despite the praise, the sudden leadership change drew widespread attention because it represented the first major personnel shift within Trump’s cabinet since the start of his second term. For months, Trump had appeared determined to avoid the constant staff turnover that characterized parts of his first presidency, when cabinet members and senior advisers were frequently replaced.