In his first second-term cabinet overhaul, Donald Trump has namedMarkwayne Mullinas the new Secretary of Homeland Security, movingKristi Noemout of the role. The leadership change follows months of mounting pressure on the department, marked by bipartisan congressional criticism of Noem and public fallout from the recent Minneapolis shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Noem will officially vacate the position on 31 March to assume a new role as special envoy for the Western Hemisphere.
Trump confirmed the transition in a public statement, expressing confidence in the Oklahoma lawmaker while outlining the timeline for the handover. 'I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS),' the president wrote. He added a brief acknowledgement of the outgoing secretary, stating: 'I thank Kristi for her service at "Homeland".'
The administrative pivot resolves a turbulent period for Noem, whose tenure faced intensified scrutiny during recent congressional hearings. She drew sharp rebukes from both sides of the political aisle over her management of the department. According to a Bloomberg report citing an unnamed source, Trump grew frustrated after Noem informed lawmakers that he had personally approved an estimated $200 million advertising campaign. The advertising campaign showed Noem personally telling migrants to self-deport, a revelation that reportedly angered Trump. That internal friction, combined with the intense external reactions to the events involving Good and Pretti in Minneapolis, precipitated the sudden leadership change.
Mullin assumes control of the domestic security apparatus following a decade serving in the US House of Representatives and his current tenure in the Senate. As a senator, he built a broad legislative portfolio across several key panels. His committee assignments include the Armed Services Committee, the Appropriations Committee, the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and the Indian Affairs Committee.
His elevation to the executive branch brings a distinct demographic milestone to the cabinet. Mullin is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. Upon his election to the upper chamber, he became the first tribal citizen to serve in the US Senate in nearly two decades, as well as only the second Cherokee Nation citizen to hold such a position in congressional history.
Beyond his political record, the new homeland security chief maintains a diverse professional background as a working cow-calf rancher and a former competitive athlete. He is a former undefeated mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, holding a professional record of five wins and zero losses. His athletic background began with collegiate wrestling; he attended Missouri Valley College on a wrestling scholarship until the age of 20 and was later inducted into the Oklahoma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.
His formal education took a non-traditional route due to family obligations. Mullin graduated from Stilwell High School but postponed his university studies when his father fell ill. He finally finished his university degree in 2010, earning a qualification in applied science and construction technology from the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology. Several years later, Bacone College awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2018.
🚨 MAJOR BREAKING: President Trump has named Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the next U.S. Secretary of Homeland SecurityKristi Noem is out.pic.twitter.com/vOOgOSWtOh
Mullinbuiltsubstantial wealth in the private sector before entering federal politics. When his father's health declined, Mullin and his then-girlfriend, Christie, took over Mullin Plumbing to save the family enterprise. The couple successfully expanded the firm, transforming it into the largest service company in their region. They subsequently founded several other commercial ventures, including Mullin Environmental and Rowan's Steakhouse.
Source: International Business Times UK
