Kristi Noem Fired: Her Reaction, the Alleged Cause, and Markwayne Mullin as Replacement – What We Know

Something dramatic unfolded behind the scenes in Washington this week. And by the time the public realized what was happening, one of the Trump administration's most visible officials was already out.

Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went from defending her decisions before Congress to losing her position within hours.

But the moment that allegedly pushed everything over the edge? That came during a hearing that few expected to become so explosive.

The Announcement That Shook Washington

The news broke quickly: President Donald Trump had decided to replace Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. According to Reuters, Trump said he never approved a massive million-dollar border security advertising campaign that prominently featured Noem.

"I never knew anything about it," the president said in a phone interview. The revelation immediately fueled questions in Washington, especially since Noem had told lawmakers the spending had received proper approval.

At that point, attention turned to the tense congressional hearings held on Tuesday and Wednesday, that had already placed her under intense scrutiny. And as details from those hearings surfaced, it became clear the controversy involved far more than just an expensive advertising campaign.

The Ad That Raised Eyebrows

Long before the firing, lawmakers were already grilling Noem over the expensive advertising campaign. The ads, some filmed at Mount Rushmore, prominently featured Noem delivering tough messaging on immigration and border enforcement.

During one of the congressional hearings, Senator John Kennedy pressed her on whether Trump had personally approved the campaign.

"The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?" Kennedy asked.

"Yes, sir. We went through the legal processes, did it correctly," Noem replied. But Trump's later claim that he didn't sign off on the spending immediately fueled criticism and questions about how the campaign was approved.

Lawmakers from both parties also scrutinized the companies that received the contracts, including firms linked to longtime Republican operatives.

The Hearing Exchange That Turned Heads

Then came the moment that truly electrified the hearing room. During a tense exchange at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove asked Noem a question that instantly shifted the tone of the session.

"Have you had sexual relations with Corey Lewandowski?" Lewandowski works as a special government employee, a role that allows outside advisers to assist the federal government on specific matters.

Noem fired back quickly. "I am shocked that we're going down and peddling tabloid garbage in this committee today," she said. "I would tell you is that he is a special government employee who works for the White House. There are thousands of them in the federal government."

Kamlager-Dove pushed further. "You should be able to answer if someone asks if you or any federal official is sleeping with their subordinate. It's the easiest. You should be wanting to answer that question."

"It is garbage," Noem shot back. The tense moment didn't stop there. Kamlager-Dove continued pressing Noem, arguing that the issue went far beyond gossip or political theater.

"It is about your judgment and decision-making. It is about the 260,000 employees that work under you that want to make sure that you are giving information and making decisions clearly," the congresswoman said.

She then raised concerns about possible national security implications tied to leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.

"It is about conflict of interest. It is about a national security risk. Department of Homeland Security was created right after 911 to protect the homeland," Kamlager-Dove said.

The lawmaker also referenced internal warnings circulating among federal officials. "And DHS has circulated an internal bulletin to law enforcement partners warning that the conflict of the war we're in could inspire lone actors or small-scale cyber activity inside the United States, according to a memo obtained by ABC News," she said.

Kamlager-Dove emphasized the stakes of the discussion:

"So American lives are at risk. The people who work for you are at risk. And they want to know that the person at the top, you are making decisions clearly without any sort of cloudiness, and that they're your decisions because you're the secretary who was confirmed."

She concluded with a pointed summary of her concerns. "That's what this is about. saving the lives of Americans and not costing them millions of dollars and not having a secretary who's compromised in her decision-making."

Representative Jared Moskowitz then tried to obtain a direct denial, but Noem refused to issue one. "I think the ridiculousness of this and the tabloids that you are quoting and referencing are insane," Noem said. "This is a thing I have refuted for years."

"Is that no?" Moskowitz asked.

"You say conservative women are stupid or sluts. I am neither," she added.

A Personal Moment Happening Just Out of Sight

Adding another layer of drama to the hearing: Noem's husband had actually been present earlier that day. According to The New York Post, Bryon Noem sat behind his wife during part of the hearing as lawmakers questioned her.

However, he left to catch a flight before the exchange about Lewandowski began. The rumors about a relationship between Noem and Lewandowski, one of Trump's longtime political strategists, had circulated for years.

According to reports, sources close to the White House told The New York Post that President Trump was aware of the rumors and had joked about them in the past. But insiders reportedly viewed Noem's handling of the question during the hearing as a disaster for her credibility.

Noem Speaks After the Shock Exit

Not long after news of her removal broke, Noem appeared publicly at the Sergeants' Benevolent Association Major Cities Conference in Nashville.

The event had already been scheduled, and cameras were rolling when the announcement about her firing surfaced. During her remarks, Noem thanked attendees and repeatedly referenced President Trump while speaking about government service. "President Trump reminded us of what it is every American's duty to do, and that is to serve the American people," she said.

She added that public officials must "fulfil our duty to protect American citizens" and that Americans "should come first under our Constitution and our laws." Noem also praised the work of Homeland Security staff and local officers.

"The men and women who serve at the Department of Homeland Security, they understand the importance of that," she said. "We also understand the importance of all of our law enforcement officers, and what they do across the country to keep people safe."

She reminded the audience that DHS was created after the 9/11 attacks. "The department was formed after the horrific events on 9-11," she said, explaining that dozens of agencies were brought together "to make sure that they were all following the same mission every single day."

Later in the speech, Noem stressed the need for cooperation between federal and local law enforcement. "All of these entities work together to serve the American people and to make sure that we're prepared for any threats that we may face," she said.

She also addressed challenges faced by law enforcement across the country. "We're seeing challenges across the country from judges and courts that are working to stop some of our efforts," Noem said. "And then also we're seeing some challenges from sanctuary states and sanctuary cities."

Despite the political storm swirling around her, Noem did not directly address her firing during the speech.

The Man Stepping Into the Spotlight

Now attention is turning to the person set to replace her: Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin. According to BBC News, Mullin is a former mixed martial arts fighter who has been a strong supporter of Trump's policies since arriving in Washington.

His personality is famously fiery. During a Senate hearing in 2023, Mullin challenged a union leader to a fight, telling him, "You want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here."

He later told the man to "shut your mouth." Outside politics, Mullin is a father of six and spent years building his family plumbing business with his wife before entering public office.

He said that if confirmed, his focus will be clear. "Once I make that transition, my focus is to keep the homeland secure," Mullin told reporters.

What Happens Next?

If confirmed by the Senate, Mullin would become the second Homeland Security secretary of President Trump's second administration. And he would inherit an agency already facing heavy scrutiny over immigration enforcement and recent controversies.

For now, however, the story of Noem's departure continues to raise questions. Was it the ads? The hearing exchange? Or the political fallout that followed? Washington insiders are still debating which moment truly sealed her fate.