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MaddowBlog-For Kristi Noem's many critics, her ouster is the first step, not the last
“Turns out lawlessness is not a winning strategy,” one Democratic senator said. “See you at Nuremberg 2.0.”
As Kristi Noem exits DHS, many of her critics see this as the first step, not the last.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-05T21:06:46.634Z
The list of Democrats eyeing post-DHS “accountability†for the hapless secretary is not short.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/for-kristi-noems-many-critics-her-ouster-is-the-first-step-not-the-last
It’s been obvious for months that Donald Trump’s White House Cabinet is filled with highly controversial and unqualified loyalists who have no business leading federal departments and agencies. But 14 months into the president’s tenure, he refused to fire any of them.
That is, until now. MS NOW reported:
In an announcement posted to his social media platform, the president said Noem “has served us well.” There’s ample evidence to the contrary......
In the meantime, there are a couple of angles to keep in mind going forward. The first is that congressional Democrats demanded Noem’s ouster as part of the negotiations over funding for DHS, and the latest developments might actually help move policymakers closer to a deal to end the ongoing shutdown.
The second, however, is that for Noem’s many critics, her departure is the first step, not the last.
At a congressional hearing on Tuesday, for example, Democratic Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont told Noem, “You’re the secretary of DHS — for now — and you think you’re immune from accountability. But I promise you this: One day, he [Trump] is not going to be president anymore. He is not going to be in charge. And when that day comes, we will still be here, and we will still be seeking accountability. And in hearings like this, we are going to continue to prove your guilt.”
A day later, responding to the president’s announcement, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote online, in reference to Noem: “Turns out lawlessness is not a winning strategy. See you at Nuremberg 2.0.”
That is, until now. MS NOW reported:
Kristi Noem, the face of some of the Trump administration’s most high-profile immigration controversies over the past year, was ousted Thursday as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, a day after she faced intense grilling from lawmakers in Congress.
President Donald Trump said he would nominate Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her at the end of the month.
In an announcement posted to his social media platform, the president said Noem “has served us well.” There’s ample evidence to the contrary......
In the meantime, there are a couple of angles to keep in mind going forward. The first is that congressional Democrats demanded Noem’s ouster as part of the negotiations over funding for DHS, and the latest developments might actually help move policymakers closer to a deal to end the ongoing shutdown.
The second, however, is that for Noem’s many critics, her departure is the first step, not the last.
Balint to Noem: "You're the secretary of DHS -- for now. And you think you're immune from accountability. But I promise you this: one day he is not gonna be president anymore. And when that day comes, we will still be here. And in hearings like this, we are going to continue to prove your guilt."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-04T19:13:40.737Z
At a congressional hearing on Tuesday, for example, Democratic Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont told Noem, “You’re the secretary of DHS — for now — and you think you’re immune from accountability. But I promise you this: One day, he [Trump] is not going to be president anymore. He is not going to be in charge. And when that day comes, we will still be here, and we will still be seeking accountability. And in hearings like this, we are going to continue to prove your guilt.”
A day later, responding to the president’s announcement, Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon wrote online, in reference to Noem: “Turns out lawlessness is not a winning strategy. See you at Nuremberg 2.0.”