New York, March 6 (NationPress) – In a significant move, US President Donald Trump has terminated the position of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, embroiled in controversies regarding her management of immigration operations and her personal affairs.

On Thursday, Trump appointed Senator Markwayne Mullin as her successor, marking the first cabinet resignation during his second term.

This development represents a dramatic shift for Noem, a staunch supporter of Trump, whose aggressive immigration strategies began to cast a shadow on the administration ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

The extensive responsibilities of the Homeland Security Department encompass various areas, including immigration, emergency management, airport security, and the Coast Guard.

Her challenges were compounded when Congress halted funding for the department in mid-February due to objections from Democrats regarding immigration service practices, leaving negotiations to restore financial support stagnating and impacting operations.

Noem was perceived as an obstacle to resolving the funding dispute, although Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer indicated that the leadership change would not alter the situation.

Trump disclosed her dismissal along with Mullin's nomination via a post on Truth Social.

Mullin, a Native American, has represented his constituents for five terms in the House and is currently in his third Senate year.

There are high hopes that Mullin will stabilize the Homeland Security Department, which has faced internal strife and external controversies stemming from Noem's controversial leadership approach.

“Markwayne is well-liked and possesses the wisdom and courage necessary to further our America First Agenda,” Trump stated.

For Mullin to assume his new role, Senate approval is required, which could potentially spare the administration a contentious battle given his current membership in the Senate.

Trump acknowledged Noem's achievements in curbing illegal immigration and announced her appointment to the newly established position of Special Envoy for “The Shield of the Americas,” aimed at fostering collaboration among Latin American and Caribbean nations to combat drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and crime.

While Trump dismissed several cabinet and senior officials during his first term, he has been more restrained in his second term.

The only other significant official dismissal was Mike Waltz, who previously served as the national security adviser and was implicated in an unsecured online chat group discussing sensitive matters.

Following his dismissal, Waltz was appointed as the permanent representative to the United Nations.

Several Republican legislators turned against Noem over immigration enforcement mishaps that led to the deaths of two US citizens by immigration personnel in Minnesota.

Her challenges peaked on Wednesday when she appeared before the House Judiciary Committee after a contentious grilling the day before by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

During the intense hearings, members of Congress, including Republicans, criticized her for the fatalities of the two individuals she labeled as “domestic terrorists.”

She declined to apologize during the Senate hearing for their deaths or the execution of the immigration raids.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis called for her resignation.

Additionally, speculation surrounding her relationship with her acting chief of staff, Corey Lewandowski, further complicated her situation.

During the House hearing, Democrat Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove directly inquired if she had “sexual relations” with Lewandowski.

In response, she sidestepped the question, dismissing it as “tabloid garbage,” which caused astonishment among attendees.

A more pressing issue that placed her at odds with Trump was a reported $200 million ad campaign involving her former spokesperson's husband.

When questioned about it in the Senate hearing, she claimed that Trump had authorized it.

However, Trump later denied in an interview with Reuters that he had given his approval.

Noem's dismissal occurred shortly after this interview was made public.

At 54, Noem is the former governor of South Dakota, a state with a population under one million, which presented challenges in her role at a vast federal department.

She attempted to compensate for this by adopting a hands-on image, donning camouflage and joining immigration officers on uniformed raids while vocally defending Trump and his policies aimed at reducing illegal immigration.