Trump fires Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary
Trump chose Mullin to replace Noem, setting up a Senate confirmation process.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The reporting is attributed to named USA TODAY journalists and presents statements from officials, lawmakers and advocacy groups. Yahoo News is carrying a story identified as originally appearing in USA TODAY, so the reporting organization—not merely the hosting page—drives this assessment.
- Source type — The article is attributed to USA TODAY, an established national news organization.
- Author attribution — Six named journalists are credited, with additional contributors identified in the article.
- Editorial standards — The report attributes claims and quotes to named sources and includes differing reactions.
- Transparency — The page explicitly identifies USA TODAY as the original publisher.
The article gives a clear timeline and attributes claims to named officials, lawmakers and advocacy representatives, while including both praise and criticism of Noem and Mullin. It provides useful context about the ad contract and shutdown, though some allegations and the consequences of the change remain unresolved.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes the White House's favorable account, criticism from Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups, and comments from Republican lawmakers. It gives substantial space to critics and does not fully resolve the competing claims about the advertising campaign.
- Source diversity — Officials, lawmakers from both parties and advocacy organizations are quoted or described.
- Counterarguments presented — The article includes praise of Noem and Mullin alongside criticism of Noem's tenure and immigration enforcement.
- Omitted context — The article reports conflicting accounts of presidential approval for the ads but does not independently establish which account is correct.
- Loaded language — Some strong judgments appear in attributed quotations; the article's own narration is generally restrained.
The report uses mostly matter-of-fact language and includes statements both supporting and criticizing Noem, Mullin and the administration. Its framing emphasizes the immigration controversy and the ad scrutiny without adopting a clear partisan position.
- Language tone — The narrative is largely descriptive, with pointed language attributed to its speakers.
- Source selection — It includes administration officials, lawmakers from both parties and immigrant advocacy groups.
- Framing — The firing is connected to congressional scrutiny, immigration enforcement and the shutdown rather than framed as a partisan victory.
Republished with credit
Republished from USA Today, with credit to the original publisher.
19 stories · 79–81 · updated Oct 9, 2026
This is USA Today's own score, and this article is credited to USA Today. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.
President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and announced Sen. Markwayne Mullin as his choice to replace her. The change came after scrutiny of a $220 million department advertising campaign and amid a partial shutdown tied to disputes over immigration enforcement.
Trump fired Noem on March 5, shortly after lawmakers questioned her about a $220 million Homeland Security advertising campaign that featured her. Noem said Trump had approved the ads; Trump denied it. Trump named Mullin as his choice to succeed her, and the White House said it would work with the Senate on confirmation. Noem said she would continue serving as a special envoy focused on security in the Western Hemisphere.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Mullin in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Mullin’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →Senator chosen by Trump to be the next Homeland Security secretary
Former Homeland Security secretary who was fired and appointed special envoy
Noem's version of this story ↗President who fired Noem and nominated Mullin to replace her
Trump's version of this story ↗Senator who said he needed time to consider Mullin's confirmation
Senator who supported Noem's reassignment and praised Mullin's selection
Defense secretary who praised Noem and welcomed Mullin
Senator who said he would vote to confirm Mullin
Minnesota governor who welcomed Noem's removal but called for a broader department overhaul
House minority leader who welcomed Noem's removal
Senator who praised Mullin and had called for Noem's resignation
Senate minority leader who opposed Mullin's confirmation and criticized Noem's removal as insufficient
Senator who questioned Noem about the advertising campaign
White House press secretary who announced the administration's plans for Mullin's confirmation and described the regional summit
Senator and top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Secretary of State named by Noem as a colleague in her new envoy role
Senator who declined to characterize Trump's decision to fire Noem
Senator who said Noem's removal might help Democrats support ending the shutdown if reforms were made
Senator expected to lead Mullin's confirmation hearing as committee chairman
Part of a bigger story
17 OUTLETSOutlets agree that Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and said he would nominate Markwayne Mullin to replace her. Left-leaning outlets scrutinize Mullin’s qualifications and likely policy continuity, with one article focusing on possible consequences for FEMA. Center outlets largely report the leadership change alongside scrutiny of Noem and details about Mullin’s nomination and Senate implications. Right-leaning outlets also report the change alongside criticism of Noem, including bipartisan criticism and Mullin’s confirmation requirement.
- ARTICLES
- 18
- OUTLETS
- 17
- AVG CRED
- 66
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