North Carolina leaders react to removal of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — North Carolina lawmakers and election candidates are weighing in after President Donald Trump announced that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem will be removed from the position.

On X, Governor Josh Stein retweeted a CNN post on the subject, saying he looks forward to working with the newly appointed secretary, Sen. Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma.

“FEMA needs to act with greater urgency approving and distributing relief funds to the people and communities of western NC as we continue to rebuild after Hurricane Helene. I look forward to working with Senator Mullin, the newly tapped Secretary of DHS, and his team at FEMA to deliver for western NC,” Stein said via X.

Congressman Chuck Edwards, representing North Carolina’s 11th District, sent News 13 a statement through text about the change in DHS leadership.

It’s clear that the current structure of FEMA is not working the way we need it to work in WNC, so I welcome a change in leadership at its highest level. My priority has been and always will be ensuring our district has the support we need to rebuild, and I look forward to a strong working relationship with Senator Markwayne Mullin as he assumes his new role at the helm of DHS. I’m confident we can deliver real results for Western North Carolina together.

Senator Thom Tillis supported President Trump’s decision to replace Noem with Mullin, while also taking a jab at Noem, saying in part, “Another big positive: he likes dogs.”

“Senator Markwayne Mullin is a great guy and a great choice to lead DHS, restore competence, and refocus efforts on quickly distributing disaster aid, keeping the border secure, and targeting violent illegal immigrants for deportation. Another big positive: he likes dogs,” Tillis said.

Tillis’s remark comes after he accused Noem of violating federal law by restricting disaster aid.

Senator Ted Budd posted on X, congratulating Senator Mullin.

“Congrats to my colleague & friend @SenMullin on his appointment to lead @DHSgov. Given the important work the agency does to keep Americans safe & its critical role in disaster recovery, I hope my colleagues vote to confirm him & move to reopen DHS swiftly,” Budd said via X.

Former North Carolina Governor and current Senate candidate Roy Cooper responded to the news, saying that both opponents, Michael Whatley and Noem, “failed” the people of western North Carolina.

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer provided News 13 with a response to Noem’s removal from the DHS.

“As Governor Stein stated, DHS needs to act faster distributing the funds that the Congress has already appropriated for the recovery of Western North Carolina. I’m hoping a change in leadership will mean that this process is streamlined and sped up rather than the fits and starts we’ve seen under Secretary Noem.”

News 13 has reached out to Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for the Senate in North Carolina, for a statement.