Employees at the Department of Homeland Security celebrated the removal of photos of former chief Kristi Noem from the agency's headquarters, following her departure from the role. Noem was fired by President Donald Trump on March 5 and subsequently named special envoy to The Shield of the Americas, with Sen. Markwayne Mullin sworn in as her replacement.
Controversial Photo Gallery Sparks Resentment
Upwards of 10 framed "glamor shots" of Noem were taken down from her Customs and Border Protection workspace even before her official exit. The photos, installed around January, had replaced images of rank-and-file federal agents, leading to significant resentment among department staff.
Orchestration and Agency Reputation
One source told Politico that Corey Lewandowski, a former special government employee who left the DHS with Noem, may have orchestrated the photo gallery. DHS employees say they hope that Mullin will repair the agency's reputation, which they felt was undermined by Noem's controversial handling of various issues during her tenure.
Noem's five most controversial moments as DHS Secretary included decisions that drew criticism from both within and outside the agency. Staff expressed relief at her removal, viewing it as a step toward restoring morale and focus on core security missions.
