<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>US President </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="_blank" title="Donald Trump"><span>Donald Trump</span></a><span> said embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and will be replaced with Oklahoma Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump made the announcement on social media on Thursday (Friday AEST), two days after Noem faced a grilling on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="Capitol Hill"><span>Capitol Hill</span></a><span> from Republicans and Democrats.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump said Noem would become a "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-live-updates-march-6-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/99ebe1df-4776-45a1-b2ea-18775f06ea58" rel="" target="_blank" title="Iran trades strikes with US and Israel for sixth day; War expands to Bahrain and Azerbaijan"><strong><span>Iran trades strikes with US and Israel for sixth day; War expands to Bahrain and Azerbaijan</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Noem is the first cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term. Noem’s departure caps a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-thom-tillis-kristi-noem-ice-department-of-homeland-security-senate-usa/46925cce-c784-4f7b-bd3e-64d5f70a67a1" rel="" target="_blank" title="tumultuous tenure overseeing immigration enforcement tactics"><span>tumultuous tenure overseeing immigration enforcement tactics</span></a><span> that have been met with protests and lawsuits.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Noem has faced waves of criticism as she’s overseen Trump’s immigration crackdown, especially since the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration enforcement officers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The former South Dakota governor was also criticised over the way her department had spent billions of dollars allocated to it by Congress.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-replaces-homeland-security-secretary-kristi-noem-with-markwayne-mullin/e598d627-be2c-4e3e-b96b-33ce598f6822" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Frustrations over Noem’s execution of the Republican president’s hard-line immigration agenda — particularly her leadership after the shooting deaths of the two US citizens in Minneapolis — as well as her handling of disaster response, paved the way for her downfall.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She faced blistering criticism from Democrats, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/cracks-appear-in-donald-trump-maga-base-as-leading-figures-criticise-iran-war/1511084d-9814-4fbb-8e86-10c358d340cb" rel="" target="_blank" title="and some Republicans"><span>and some Republicans</span></a><span>, in Congress hearings this week over those issues and others.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Aside from immigration, Noem also faced criticism — including from Republicans — over the pace of emergency funding approved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and for the Trump administration’s response to disasters.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mullin would need to be confirmed by the Senate, but under a federal law governing executive branch vacancies, he would be allowed to serve as an acting Homeland Security secretary as long as his nomination is formally pending.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><p><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>and</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w"><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></a></p></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>