Noem Removed by President Donald Trump
President Donald Trump announced he had removed Kristi Noem from her role as Secretary of Homeland Security and named Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as the next DHS Secretary effective March 31. The move came after public scrutiny of Noem’s conduct during Congressional hearings and questions about a controversial $200 million DHS ad campaign. The administration framed the change as a personnel adjustment to restore confidence in DHS operations and oversight.
Corey Lewandowski Leaving With Her
Sources say Corey Lewandowski, who served as a senior adviser to Noem and previously managed President Donald Trump s 2016 campaign, will depart DHS following Noem s reassignment. Multiple outlets reported Lewandowski is expected to leave alongside Noem rather than remain in the department. That decision closes a chapter on his official role at DHS after a period of high-profile attention.
What Triggered the Shakeup
At the center of the controversy is a roughly $200 million ad contract that Noem approved. Critics say the contract was steered to a small set of bidders and that Noem gave inconsistent testimony to Congress about whether the process was competitive and whether the president had approved the contract. Those discrepancies appear to have upset senior White House officials and played a role in the decision to remove her from the DHS post.
Connections and Questions
One of the firms linked to the limited bidding process has ties to Lewandowski, prompting questions about how bids were selected and who benefited. Reporters noted that some contracts involved subcontracting to associates of Noem s staff and to people connected to political allies. Lawmakers and watchdogs will likely press for more details about procurement rules and whether federal contracting rules were followed.
Rumors, Reputation, and Politics
Beyond procurement questions, media reports referenced rumors about a personal relationship between Noem and Lewandowski. Officials cited those rumors among several factors that influenced the president s decision. Whether any of the allegations amount to misconduct will depend on follow up by investigators and, if warranted, Congressional probes. For now the administration has moved to install Senator Mullin and to reset leadership at DHS.
🚨Kristi Noem told Congress the $200M ad contract "went out to a competitive bid" with a winner picked by career officials. But only 3 hand-picked companies were allowed to bid: a firm that subbed to a Noem aide's spouse; one linked to Lewandowski; & Trump influencer Erica Knight pic.twitter.com/D39LpJaNDq
— Luke Rosiak (@lukerosiak) March 5, 2026
Corey Lewandowski, senior adviser to Kristi Noem and a former Trump campaign manager, is also leaving the Department of Homeland Security, as Noem was reassigned Thursday by President Trump to serve as the Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.
In the days leading up to… pic.twitter.com/BsEoZPWRK2
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 5, 2026
Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich: “I’m told the president spoke with Kristi Noem just before that Truth Social post went out, which means when she was on camera giving her remarks, she didn’t actually touch on what happened. She was aware of what was happening. I’m further told Corey… pic.twitter.com/nrLQrIgrEq
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) March 5, 2026
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