Capitol Hill Dems hail Trump's DHS ouster of Noem after heated Senate hearing

By Fox News · Fox News

Capitol Hill exploded with reactions on Thursday as news spread that President Donald Trump had ousted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. "That she’s gone, you know — hallelujah," Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., told Fox News Digital on Thursday. "That he’s the replacement, oh my God. I don’t know what else to say," McGovern said, referring to Trump’s next pick for the role, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. Trump’s decision, which drew cautious praise from Republicans and widespread jubilation from Democrats, came on the heels of news that Noem had spent over $220 million developing an ad campaign — news that broke during a bruising Senate committee hearing. TRUMP'S NEW DHS PICK IS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION HAWK WHO'S ‘ALL ABOUT THE MISSION’: EXPERT During questioning from Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., Noem said President Donald Trump had personally signed off on the expenditure. "The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?" Kennedy asked. "Yes, he did," Noem said. The exchange reportedly enraged Trump, who contested Noem’s claim. More broadly, Noem’s removal comes as DHS has captured national focus as a key tool in Trump’s immigration crackdown. In particular, criticism of the agency burst into view after immigration enforcement shot and killed two civilians in January, after Minnesota agitators got into confrontations with federal agents. In response to the shootings, Noem said her agents had acted in self-defense and protected themselves from credible threats. KRISTI NOEM FIRED FROM HOMELAND SECURITY POST AMID RECENT TURMOIL Noem won’t be leaving the administration entirely. Instead of heading up DHS, she will now become Trump’s special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a new coalition of countries in Latin America. To Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the buildup of criticisms made Noem’s removal just a matter of time. "Well, I think basically the president had…