Washington braces for first major reshuffle within Trump cabinet

The White House is undergoing its first major cabinet reshuffle since the re-election of Donald Trump as it announces a replacement for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leader role.

On March 5, the US president announced that Kristi Noem would step down from the role and instead serve as a special envoy for the “Shield of the Americas,” a newly created security initiative.

If confirmed, she will be replaced by Markwayne Mullin, a US senator nominated by the president.

Trump’s decision to reassign Noem came after a tense two-day congressional hearing on Capitol Hill, as US media reported. The homeland security secretary faced sharp questioning from lawmakers from both parties over a series of controversies that made her continued leadership increasingly difficult.

During her tenure, Noem oversaw high-profile immigration enforcement operations that were frequently promoted on social media, with the secretary sometimes accompanying federal agents during arrests.

Amid the broader immigration crackdown across the United States, two US citizens—Alex Pretti and Renee Good—were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year, triggering widespread outrage and demonstrations nationwide.

Lawmakers also questioned Noem about a roughly $220 million border-security advertising campaign in which she featured prominently. According to US media reports, the contracts drew criticism after being awarded to firms with political ties to the Republican Party, including a subcontractor linked to individuals close to Noem.

As DHS secretary, she also supervised the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its disaster-response operations. Both Democrats and Republicans criticised her handling of major emergencies, including the deadly Texas floods of July 2025 and Hurricane Helene in 2024. Critics said her management style slowed disaster-response funding and reimbursement to affected states.

Announcing the cabinet change, Trump praised Noem’s record, saying she “has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results [especially on the Border!]”.

The Shield of the Americas initiative is a new US national-security programme focused on the Western Hemisphere. The effort reflects Trump’s push to expand US security operations in the region, including increased military and intelligence deployments. It draws inspiration from the Monroe Doctrine on spheres of influence—rebranded by the administration as the “Donroe Doctrine.” The programme aims to dismantle cartels, combat drug trafficking, and counter the influence of China in Latin America.

Before entering politics, Mullin was a business owner and professional mixed-martial-arts fighter with an undefeated 5–0 record. He served for a decade in the United States House of Representatives before moving to the United States Senate in 2023. Known for cultivating a “MAGA Warrior” persona, he has long acted as a key intermediary between the White House and congressional Republicans.

By Nazrin Sadigova