Kristi Noem Denies Congressional Testimony Led to Her Dismissal as DHS Secretary

Kristi Noem denied that her congressional testimony in March was the reason for her dismissal as Homeland Security Secretary. She clarified that discussions about her transition had taken place prior to the testimony. After her dismissal, she was appointed as a special envoy for the Shield of the Americas and has also joined the advisory board of a mining company.

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Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on June 16, 2026, that her congressional testimony in March did not lead to her dismissal from her position. During an interview on Fox Business, Noem explained that discussions about a potential transition had occurred with President Donald Trump prior to her testimony. She also mentioned conversations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the transition before the congressional hearings, where she faced questioning on immigration enforcement and DHS contracts requiring her approval. Following the hearings, President Trump announced Noem's replacement by Markwayne Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma. Noem was subsequently appointed as a special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a coalition aimed at combating drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere. She expressed gratitude to Trump and Rubio for retaining her in a role where she can share her DHS experience with various nations. The Shield of the Americas includes 17 countries, primarily in Latin America, but notably excludes Mexico. Additionally, Noem has joined the advisory board of NovaRed Mining, a mineral exploration company based in Canada.

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