Kristi Noem became the first Cabinet secretary to leave President Trump’s second term Thursday. She didn’t resign – she was fired. The official White House statement called her departure a “job switch” to a new Western Hemisphere security role. Administration officials told NBC News it was termination for “a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures.”
The breaking point: congressional hearings this week where Noem told Senator John Kennedy that Trump approved a controversial advertising contract.
Trump reportedly went “furious” when he learned of her testimony. A White House official confirmed to Fox News that Trump “did not know about the ad and did not approve it, despite her claims to the contrary.”
By Thursday afternoon, Noem was out. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma – who learned of his nomination via phone call during a GOP Senate lunch – is in. And the first major Cabinet firing of Trump’s second term reveals how quickly Cabinet members fall when they become political liability rather than asset.
What Went Wrong in 13 Months
Noem served as DHS Secretary for 13 months. Her tenure included aggressive immigration enforcement, record drug interdictions, and management of Trump’s mass deportation agenda that resulted in over 2 million reported self-deportations and 670,000 removals.
By the administration’s metrics, she was successful. Trump’s statement praised her “numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!).” Republicans remained “highly complimentary of Noem’s tenure.”
But an administration official told NBC News the firing resulted from “a culmination of her many unfortunate leadership failures including the fallout in Minnesota, the ad campaign, the allegations of infidelity, the mismanagement of her staff, and her constant feuding with the heads of other agencies, including CBP and ICE.”
The official added: “Kristi’s drama sadly overshadowed and distracted from the Administration’s extremely popular immigration agenda.”
That framing reveals the real problem: not policy failure, but political liability. Noem’s controversies were distracting from Trump’s agenda. When Cabinet secretaries become the story instead of implementing the president’s policies, they become expendable.
The Minneapolis Disasters
Two U.S. citizens were killed by federal agents during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis under Noem’s watch. Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents while recording them with his phone. Video evidence contradicted federal agents’ claims about the shooting.
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The Minneapolis operations became public relations catastrophe. Video evidence contradicting official accounts. Crime scenes with disputed evidence preservation. Federal and state governments blaming each other. Constitutional questions about use of force and immigration enforcement tactics.
U.S. Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino—Noem’s subordinate—was replaced in Minneapolis by Border Czar Tom Homan amid the firestorm. The replacement suggested administration recognized the Minneapolis operations were damaging but blamed operational leadership rather than Noem directly.
But the damage accumulated. Public sentiment on the administration’s immigration enforcement “somewhat soured” according to reports. When your signature policy area starts polling badly because of operational failures, your job security deteriorates.
The Congressional Hearing That Ended Her
Wednesday and Thursday’s bicameral Judiciary Committee hearings destroyed Noem politically. Multiple scandals converged simultaneously:
The Ad Contract Controversy
Senator John Kennedy grilled Noem about a taxpayer-funded advertisement contract subcontracted to a firm connected with her inner circle. Noem responded that Trump approved the ad.
Trump reportedly “went furious” learning of her testimony. A White House official confirmed Trump “did not know about the ad and did not approve it, despite her claims to the contrary.”
Telling Congress the president approved something he didn’t know about is catastrophic Cabinet-level error. Either Noem lied to Congress (perjury), or she genuinely believed Trump approved something he didn’t (incompetence and lack of communication with the president).
Neither explanation is survivable for Cabinet secretary. You don’t invoke the president’s name falsely in congressional testimony and keep your job.
The Affair Allegations
Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove asked Noem directly: at any time during her tenure, did she have “sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski,” a DHS “special government employee” and longtime Trump campaign aide?
Representative Jared Moskowitz followed up, wearing a “Justice for Cricket” pin – reference to the dog Noem wrote she euthanized on her farm. He pressed: “I really think you need to say the word ‘no’ into the record so that you can clear that up.”
Noem’s husband, Bryon Noem, sat feet behind her during questioning.
Noem didn’t say “no.” She called the questions “offensive” and accused Democrats of attacking “conservative women” by calling them “either stupid or sluts.” She refused direct denial, instead attacking the questioners.
The optics were devastating: married Cabinet secretary, questioned about affair with subordinate while husband watches, refuses to deny it directly, attacks questioners instead.
Corey Lewandowski is now “expected to leave DHS” according to administration officials—suggesting the administration believes removing him resolves the scandal.
The “I Am Neither of Those” Response
Noem’s response to Moskowitz became the viral moment: “The socialist, liberal left: you go off and you attack conservative women and you say that we’re either stupid or we’re sluts. That’s what you do. And I will tell you sir… I am neither of those.”
The statement was defiant, combative, and politically ineffective. It didn’t deny the affair allegations—it reframed them as partisan attack on conservative women generally.
That response might work in conservative media or campaign rallies. It doesn’t work when you’re Cabinet secretary being questioned under oath about relationship with subordinate you gave government position to.
The administration official’s comment to NBC News included “allegations of infidelity” as one of Noem’s “unfortunate leadership failures.” Trump apparently decided the scandal—whether true or false—made Noem political liability.
Lewandowski’s Role and Exit
Corey Lewandowski served as “special government employee” at DHS. Lawmakers questioned whether he had power to approve grants and contracts—suggesting he exercised official authority without proper appointment or confirmation.
Special government employees are temporary federal workers serving less than 130 days per year. They’re exempt from many ethics rules and conflict-of-interest restrictions that apply to regular federal employees.
Using special government employee designation for someone who appears to exercise significant authority raises legal questions. If Lewandowski was effectively operating as senior DHS official while classified as temporary special employee, that could violate appointment and ethics laws.
His expected departure alongside Noem’s firing suggests the administration recognized his presence was politically untenable regardless of whether affair allegations were true.
Senator Mullin’s Surprise Nomination
Senator Markwayne Mullin learned of his nomination during Thursday GOP Senate lunch. He got phone call from White House switchboard, “abruptly” got up and rushed out, leaving “full plate of food behind” according to Senator Roger Wicker.
Mullin was spotted pressing cellphone to ear while covering mouth with other hand—”trying to shield the conversation from reporters”—then ducked into Senate leadership office.
Later, speaking to reporters: “I’ve got to be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting the call today, but I am super excited.”
When asked if he needed to talk to his wife first, Mullin said yes. When asked if he was headed to White House to meet Trump: “I’m not sure.”
The lack of preparation suggests Trump’s decision was rapid—possibly made Thursday morning after learning about Noem’s congressional testimony Wednesday. Mullin wasn’t vetted in advance, wasn’t consulted about interest in the position, and learned of nomination via surprise phone call.
Who Markwayne Mullin Is
Mullin is first-term Republican senator from Oklahoma. Former MMA fighter with undefeated record. Served decade in House before winning 2022 special Senate election. First Native American senator in decades.
He does not serve on Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee—the committee that will confirm him for the job he’s being nominated to lead.
But he has “strong relationship with Trump.” The president praised him as “the only Native American in the Senate” and “fantastic advocate for our incredible Tribal Communities.”
Mullin told reporters: “The president and I, as you guys know, we’re great friends, and we get along great.”
That relationship appears to be the qualification. Not homeland security experience. Not immigration policy expertise. Not management of 240,000-employee department. Friendship with Trump and loyalty to his agenda.
The Constitutional Questions About Cabinet Removals
Can presidents fire Cabinet secretaries at will? Yes. Cabinet members serve at presidential pleasure. They can be removed for any reason or no reason.
The Constitution vests executive power in the president. Cabinet secretaries are principal officers who execute presidential policies. If president loses confidence in Cabinet member’s ability or loyalty, he can remove them.
This is different from independent agency officials (like Federal Reserve governors) who serve fixed terms and can only be removed “for cause.” Cabinet secretaries have no such protection.
But the political calculation matters. Firing Cabinet secretaries sends signals:
About presidential management: Frequent Cabinet turnover suggests chaos, poor vetting, or inability to manage personnel.
About policy direction: Which Cabinet members get fired reveals what the president actually prioritizes versus what he claims to prioritize.
About loyalty versus competence: If secretaries get fired for scandals rather than policy failures, loyalty to president personally matters more than effective governance.
Noem’s firing appears driven by political liability—scandals distracting from Trump’s agenda—not policy failure. Her immigration enforcement record was praised even in the termination announcement.