There were scenes of jubilation among the rank-and-file at the Department of Homeland Security Thursday after staffers learned their boss Kristi Noem had been fired by President Donald Trump — with some reportedly “crying out of happiness.”
Noem became the first major casualty of Trump’s Cabinet in his second term after the president axed her in a Truth Social post following months of White House frustration with the embattled DHS chief.
Trump has tapped Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin, a 48-year-old former MMA fighter and MAGA ally, to replace her. Noem will be named “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” according to the president, when she leaves her current post at the end of the month.
Those who had worked directly under Noem and her top adviser Corey Lewandowski were popping the champagne, according to the Washington Examiner. “People in the office are actually crying out of happiness,” one person reportedly told the outlet.
Over at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is part of DHS, staffers expressed their relief at Noem’s departure after policies she implemented during her year-long tenure slowed disaster relief responses, NOTUS reported.
And the bar appeared to be set low for FEMA staffers on Noem’s replacement.
“Anyone is better than that dog murderer,” said one longtime staffer, referring to the infamous anecdote in Noem’s memoir that she shot her “untrainable” 14-month-old puppy.
“I’m just relieved. I hope this allows us to actually function again,” another told NOTUS. “Mullin is a Trumper and MAGA to the core but I don’t see him being as awful as her.”
Those close to the White House also breathed a sigh of relief. “Hallelujah,” a source told Semafor.
Democrats in states where Noem has overseen an aggressive anti-immigration operation and sweeping deportations in the past year were also celebrating.
Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis wrote: “Good riddance” in a post on X. Minnesota has endured a surge of federal immigration agents on Noem’s watch, culminating in the deaths of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year. Noem refused to apologize in congressional hearings this week for calling Good and Pretti “domestic terrorists.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said that Noem “has done a stunning amount of damage” in his state and it was “good she’s gone.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, whose state has also seen aggressive federal anti-immigration action, swiped: “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Kristi Noem.”
Similarly in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s official press team cheered Noem’s firing. “BYE GIRL!” the account posted on X, and later followed up with a “Justice for Cricket” post, referring to the dog Noem killed.
Trump stood by Noem in January after she faced intense scrutiny for her response to the killings of Good and Pretti in Minneapolis. But her “disastrous” performances at hearings in the House and Senate this week appeared to be the final straw.
Trump was reportedly “incensed” that Noem claimed during the hearing that he signed off on a $220 million Homeland Security ad campaign that heavily featured the secretary.
Trump said he “never knew anything about it” in an interview Thursday shortly before announcing Noem would be stepping down from her role.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis grilled Noem during a Senate oversight hearing this week with a long list of grievances, and brought up the incident with her dog.
“You decided to kill that dog because you had not invested the appropriate time in training. And then you have the audacity to go into a book and say it’s a leadership lesson about tough choices?” he asked Noem.
Tillis was among Republicans celebrating Noem’s exit and welcomed Mullin’s nomination to lead Homeland Security.
“Another big positive: he likes dogs,” Tillis said.
