Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are both reacting as if they think they have the lion by the tail, after President Donald Trump announced Thursday afternoon that he has fired DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Trump has chosen Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem as Homeland Security Secretary. Mullin will now have to go through the Senate confirmation process.
One Democrat Senator, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, has already assured Mullin of his support. However, many Democrats are expected to vote against him, simply because he is a Republican and a staunch Trump supporter.
Since Mullin cannot vote for himself, there will be one less Republican vote than normal, as the GOP holds a very narrow majority in the Senate.
Schumer and Jeffries have been holding DHS funding hostage as they are demanding massive reforms of the agency, particularly the federal immigration operations.
Now that a vote will be needed to confirm a new DHS Secretary, Democrats appear poised to make even more demands.
Schumer released a video statement after Noem’s firing, and declared, “Kristi Noem has been fired. Good riddance. But the problems at DHS go much deeper than any one person. The President must rein in ICE and end the violence.”
Kristi Noem has been fired. Good riddance.
But the problems at DHS go much deeper than any one person.
The President must rein in ICE and end the violence. pic.twitter.com/qiDNiQK4dp
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 5, 2026
Schumer made a similar statement while speaking to reporters.
SCHUMER: “The president has fired Kristi Noem. Good riddance.”
“But the problems at this agency, ICE, transcend any one person. The rot is deep. The president has to end the violence and rein in ICE.” pic.twitter.com/bl5seSFwma
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 5, 2026
Meanwhile, Jeffries declared in a post on X, “Kristi Noem is gone. Pam Bondi is next. Keep the pressure on these extremists.”
Kristi Noem is gone. Pam Bondi is next.
Keep the pressure on these extremists.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) March 5, 2026
Speaking to reporters, Jeffries declared, “Kristi Noem has been fired, consistent with what we have demanded on behalf of the American people. But let me also make clear, a change in personnel is not sufficient. We need a change in policy, and that has to be bold, dramatic, transformational and meaningful.”
JEFFRIES: “Kristi Noem has been fired, consistent with what we have demanded on behalf of the American people. But let me also make clear, a change in personnel is not sufficient. We need a change in policy, and that has to be bold, dramatic, transformational and meaningful.” pic.twitter.com/m9DbPthdd9
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 5, 2026
WATCH: Sen. Mullin speaks to press after being tapped for DHS Secretary
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