Tillis Welcomes Noem's Departure from DHS

The North Carolina senator says Noem lacked the experience to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) expressed satisfaction with President Trump's decision to remove Kristi Noem from her post as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Tillis criticized Noem's leadership, saying her experience as governor of South Dakota did not translate well to the size and scope of the DHS. The senator also slammed Noem for holding up disaster relief funding for North Carolina and for her response to a fatal shooting of U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.

Why it matters

Tillis' comments highlight the political tensions within the Republican party over immigration and homeland security policies. As a senator, Tillis has been critical of Noem's approach, which appears to be at odds with his own views on issues like deportation priorities and the role of White House advisers like Stephen Miller.

The details

Tillis told CNN's Jake Tapper that he is 'glad' President Trump is removing Noem from her DHS post, saying her experience as governor did not 'scale' to the size and scope of the department. The senator has repeatedly criticized Noem in recent months, particularly after federal immigration officers fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis and over her handling of disaster relief funding for North Carolina.

  • On March 31, 2026, Noem will depart her role as DHS Secretary.
  • Earlier this week, Tillis criticized Noem's leadership during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

The players

Thom Tillis

A Republican senator from North Carolina who has been critical of Kristi Noem's tenure as DHS Secretary.

Kristi Noem

The outgoing Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who previously served as the governor of South Dakota.

Markwayne Mullin

The Oklahoma senator who President Trump has nominated to replace Noem as the new DHS Secretary.

Stephen Miller

A White House adviser who pushed for increased immigration arrests, a strategy that Tillis has criticized.

Renee Good

A U.S. citizen who was fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.

Alex Pretti

Another U.S. citizen who was fatally shot by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.

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What they’re saying

“Well, I'm glad he moved on. Secretary Noem may have been effective as the governor in South Dakota, but it's very clear that her experience didn't scale to something the size and scope of Homeland Security.”

— Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator (CNN's State of the Union)

“What we've seen is a disaster under your leadership, Ms. Noem, a disaster.”

— Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator (Senate Judiciary Committee hearing)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Tillis' criticism of Noem's leadership at DHS reflects the ongoing partisan debates over immigration and homeland security policies within the Republican party. His support for Mullin as the new DHS Secretary suggests he hopes for a change in direction, though the influence of advisers like Stephen Miller remains a concern.