️ US President Donald Trump announced the replacement of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem with Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin. In a social media post on Thursday, Trump explained that he had reassigned Noem to be a special envoy for a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere, dubbed the “Shield of the Americas”. This staffing change will take effect starting March 31, marking the first major cabinet-level shake-up of Trump’s second term so far.
️ Trump praised Noem upon her departure from the cabinet-level post, but her tenure has been mired in controversy. Noem played a prominent role in some of the administration’s most contentious immigration policies, and her time at DHS spurred questions about government spending and conflicts of interest. The announcement of her removal came a day after she faced intense criticism from Democrats during congressional judiciary hearings this week, with several calling for her resignation.
️ Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal accused Noem of “failed leadership” during Wednesday’s hearing and demanded her resignation. Additionally, the announcement of Noem’s replacement comes as DHS continues to weather a partial government shutdown, with Democrats opposing new funding legislation for the department in response to several deadly shootings involving immigration agents under Noem’s leadership.
️ Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin repeatedly accused Noem of launching a “smear campaign” against two US citizens shot dead during interactions with immigration agents: Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and highlighted her comments labeling them as “domestic terrorists”. Raskin also noted that Noem barred Minnesota investigators from the crime scenes, which he said “smells like a coverup”. Furthermore, Noem has been scrutinized for a $220 million advertising campaign promoting border security, which features her riding a horse near Mount Rushmore.
️ Noem denied any wrongdoing, while Trump claimed no connection to the advertising campaign. Noem played a key role in the administration’s mass deportation push and frequently used rhetoric vilifying immigrants. Her successor Mullin, a member of the Cherokee Nation, is purportedly set to be a “fantastic advocate” for tribal communities and focus on border security, according to Trump’s statement.
Source: www.aljazeera.com