Fired, Divided, and Defunded: How Arizona Is Responding to DHS in Crisis

Arizona's congressional representatives voiced starkly contrasting views Thursday after President Donald Trump announced that Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) will replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, effective March 31, 2026.

The shakeup at DHS coincides with a partial agency funding shutdown. On the same day as Trump's announcement, Senate Democrats blocked a spending bill for the third time, demanding new limits on immigration enforcement amid President Trump's conflict in Iran.

However, Noem’s presence is not permanently leaving as she is shifting to a new role as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, staying within the administration.

For Arizona Democrats, the news of Noem's removal was welcomed.

Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) did not mince words. "Kristi Noem was just fired as secretary of homeland security. That is a good decision for the American people," he shared on social media. "She did a terrible and incompetent job leading FEMA, and we saw what happened in Minneapolis. Two of our fellow Americans were killed as a result of her incompetence. She deserved to go."

“Good riddance,” he concluded.

Representative Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) was equally pointed on X. "BYE @Sec_Noem — don't let the door hit you on the way out!" she wrote, calling for broader reform. "Secretary Noem ran a department that terrorized our communities, trampled on constitutional rights, and murdered American citizens. Still, removing Noem does not root out the lawlessness at ICE. Dismantle ICE," she added.

Republicans Cheer Mullin, Credit Noem

In contrast, Arizona Republicans focused on the path forward.

Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) welcomed the incoming nominee. "Representing a border district, I know how critical strong leadership at DHS is to our national security," he wrote. "A fresh start at DHS comes at an important time. I look forward to working together to keep our border secure and support the men and women on the front lines protecting our communities."

Representative Andy Biggs (R–AZ) credited Noem's tenure while expressing confidence in her successor. "Secretary Noem inherited the worst border in our country's history," Biggs wrote on X. "In short order, she and President Trump secured the border and took meaningful steps to remove dangerous criminals from our communities. For her efforts, she has our gratitude." Biggs added that he trusts Mullin to "execute the administration's vision and policies to effectively protect our homeland."

With Mullin's confirmation hearing not yet scheduled and DHS still operating under a partial shutdown, the road ahead for the department remains uncertain.

For Arizona, a state where border policy is rarely an abstraction, the coming weeks are likely to keep DHS squarely in the spotlight.