Noem spoke at a law enforcement event in Nashville, Tennessee, shortly after Trump’s announcement, but did not immediately mention the Homeland Security firings.

Instead, she read prepared remarks that included reinforcing President Trump’s message from last month’s State of the Union address.

President Trump said Noem would become special envoy for Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere.

Instead, she read prepared remarks that included reinforcing President Trump’s message from last month’s State of the Union address.

President Trump said Noem would become special envoy for Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere.

Noem oversees President Trump’s immigration crackdown and has faced a wave of criticism, particularly after two protesters were shot to death at the hands of immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis.

Particularly scrutinized was a US$220 million ($314 million) ad campaign featuring Noem encouraging illegal immigrants to leave the country voluntarily.

Noem told lawmakers that Trump knew about the campaign in advance, but Trump disputed this in an interview with Reuters on Thursday, saying he did not consent to the ad campaign.

Her department, DHS, has also been closed for 20 days, but many of its employees continue to work without pay.

Beyond immigration, Noem has also faced criticism from Republicans over the pace of emergency funding approved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Trump administration’s response to disasters.

Mullin must be confirmed by the Senate, but under federal law governing executive branch vacancies, he is authorized to serve as acting secretary of Homeland Security pending formal nomination.

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