WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, already frustrated withHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, was incensed by her performance this week during congressional hearings and is considering firing her, lawmakers and people familiar with the discussions tell NBC News.

Trump has been speaking this week with Republican lawmakers about his displeasure with Noem and has made clear in those conversations that he is considering replacing her, according to two Republican lawmakers, a person familiar with White House’s thinking and three people familiar with the president’s private discussions.

White House officials have already discussed names of potential replacements for Noem, including Republican Sens. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma and Steve Daines of Montana, according to two of the people familiar with the discussions.

No decision has been made by the president, the sources say, but that he has told lawmakers that he is unhappy with Noem’s testimonythis week before House and Senate committees.

Noem has been at the forefront of Trump’s signature policy agendas: the deportation of immigrants, the restricting of immigration and the clamping down of the U.S.-Mexico border. Her ouster would mark the first time a Cabinet secretary has exited in Trump’s second term.

The president was particularly frustrated by Noem’s response when she was repeatedly asked about her role in approving contracts, specifically a$220 million ad campaignto encourage immigrants to self-deport, the sources said. U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., described Trump as “pissed.”

At one point during questioning, Noem told Kennedy that Trump knew about her decision to approve the ad campaign contracts — an answer that did not sit well with the president, the sources said. The ad contracts went out through a process that limited competitive bidding.

A White House official told NBC News that the president did not sign off on the ad campaign.

Kennedy told reporters he had spoken with the president about the exchange.

“The president of the United States called me, and I’m not going to speak for him, folks, but, I would put it this way: his recollection and her recollection are different.”

Source: Drudge Report