Kristi Noem’s ouster from DHS draws bipartisan support on Capitol Hill

President Donald Trump surprised Washington with his decision to fire Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday, but few lawmakers on Capitol Hill questioned the decision.

Although Republicans have rarely criticized Noem during her tenure, many GOP lawmakers argued Thursday that firing the secretary was the right move. Trump nominated a close ally, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), to head the fast-growing institution Thursday afternoon.

“I think the president has done what is necessary to make sure the department will operate effectively,” Rep. Byron Donalds, who welcomed news of Mullin’s appointment, said Thursday. “It was time.”

Mullin, a 48-year-old lawmaker, is a member of the Senate Republicans’ leadership team and previously served several terms in the House.

Noem’s time leading DHS has been rocked by a series of controversies that include an expensive advertising campaign in which she claimed to have Trump’s endorsement and her widely panned response to the fatal shooting of two Americans by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis earlier this year.

“Obviously things didn’t go very well,” Donalds added when asked about Noem’s appearance at two hearings on Capitol Hill this week.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R.N.C. Several GOP lawmakers, including John Kennedy, R-La., lashed out at Noem during her appearance before the Senate’s judiciary panel on Tuesday.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a moderate lawmaker who is retiring at the end of her term, echoed Kennedy’s criticism, questioning Noem’s prominent role in the costly ad campaign and her ties to buyers who were awarded contracts.

“There are legal concerns. When it’s a $200 million ad [campaign]”We must manage our money better,” Bacon said. “I think the president probably saw a need for change.”

DHS has responded that the mass advertising campaign led to the deportation of millions of people.

Few Republicans on Capitol Hill objected to President Donald Trump’s decision to fire current Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Rep. Mike Lawler, R-Y., told Fox News Digital on Thursday that Noem’s departure would eliminate the “distraction” and “conflicts” that have erupted at DHS under her leadership.

“Given the situation in the Middle East, the department needs to focus entirely on its mission,” Lawler said, referring to Operation Epic Rage in Iran. he said.

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., who is not running for re-election. wrote “The leadership change at the Department of Homeland Security is long overdue,” it said on social media Thursday.

House Democrats, many of whom have been fiercely critical of Noem’s role in the Trump administration, appeared to agree.

“He’s done enough damage for the president to finally come to his senses,” Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House homeland security panel, said Thursday.

“I think this was the right decision by the president. This has been a long time coming,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., told Fox News Digital.

D-Fla. After Rep. Jared Moskowitz, R-Okla., repeatedly called for outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to resign, Sen. Markwayne said he wants Mullin to be successful as head of the Department of Homeland Security. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Moskowitz, who sparred with Noem during testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, argued that she would be the worst DHS secretary in the agency’s two-decade history. But he refused to sign the articles of impeachment circulated by House Democrats.

When asked about Mullin’s appointment, Moskowitz said he wished him good luck. “She left a disaster for her, but frankly I want her to succeed,” the Florida Democrat said of Noem’s tenure. “We should all want this, so let’s give him the opportunity.”

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