Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin said he was “humbled” to be President Donald Trump’s nominee as the next homeland security secretary, replacing Kristi Noem.
“Humbling,” Mullin told press when asked of his first reaction to his nomination.
“I had to call my dad … because it happened quick. I had to call my wife,” Mullin said, adding, “It’s just, you know, pretty humbling when you start thinking about it: A little kid from Westville, Oklahoma, gets to serve in the president’s Cabinet. That’s pretty neat.”
When Mullin is confirmed, he says his priority will be to enforce the laws Congress has passed.
“My focus is to keep the homeland secure. That’s going to be my focus, and we’re super excited about this opportunity,” he told press.
Mullin was a member of the House for 10 years before becoming a senator in January 2023.
“I am grateful to President Trump for nominating me to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” Mullin wrote on X. “I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the Senate and carrying out President Trump’s mission alongside the department’s many capable agencies and the thousands of patriots who keep us safe every day.”
Mullin will oversee the 260,000 employees and 22 components of the agency, taking over for Noem, who has served as Trump’s Department of Homeland Security secretary since January 2025.
Noem will now serve as “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida,” Trump announced Thursday. “I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland.’”
Noem thanked Trump in a post on X for appointing her to the new position, adding that she looks forward to working with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “to dismantle cartels that have poured drugs into our nation and killed our children and grandchildren.”
Trump’s announcement follows a report from National Review’s Audrey Fahlberg that Trump was “furious” with Noem following her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
During the hearing, Noem said Trump had approved a $220 million ad campaign featuring her that encouraged illegal aliens to self-deport.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pressed Noem on the ads while she was under oath, asking: “The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?”
“Yes,” Noem answered.
While Noem said Trump knew about the ads, the president later told Reuters he “never knew anything about it.”
Noem’s departure comes as DHS is currently in a partial shutdown while Congress continues to debate its funding. Senate Democrats have demanded changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies as a condition of funding.
Democrats continued their holdout on Thursday as a bill to fund DHS failed to receive the necessary 60 votes to end debate.