Kristi Noem Transitions From Trump Envoy Role Amid Changes

WHO:

CNN - Kristi Noem, Deputy Secretary Landau, President Donald Trump, Louisiana GOP Sen. John Kennedy, Markwayne Mullin

CNN - Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump, Deputy Secretary Landau, Louisiana GOP Sen. John Kennedy, Markwayne Mullin

CBS News Politics - Kristi Noem, Trump administration

WHAT:

CNN - Kristi Noem is now a Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary Landau and continues to work on the Shield of the Americas portfolio.

CBS News Politics - Noem is no longer serving as the Trump administration's envoy to the Shield of the Americas initiative.

CNN - Kristi Noem has transitioned to a new role at the State Department after her special envoy status expired.

CNN - Noem is now a Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary Landau and continues to work on the Shield of the Americas portfolio.

CNN - Trump praised Noem during a Shield of Americas meeting at the United Nations General Assembly, stating, “I want to thank Kristi Noem for doing a really terrific job.”

CNN - Trump announced that he was selecting Markwayne Mullin to replace Noem after her ouster.

WHERE:

CNN - The United Nations General Assembly, where Trump praised Noem.

WHEN:

CNN - Noem's special envoy status expired last month.

CNN - Trump fired Noem in March.

CNN - Noem learned of her firing while arriving at an event in Nashville.

WHY:

CNN - Noem's ouster followed her statement to lawmakers that Trump approved of her agency’s lavish spending on an advertising campaign.

CNN - Noem's ouster followed her statement to lawmakers that Trump approved of her agency’s lavish spending on an advertising campaign.

CNN - Trump was reportedly unhappy with the campaign, stating he “wasn’t thrilled with it.”

HOW:

CNN - Noem had previously reported to Landau in her role as special envoy.

CNN - Noem's transition involved moving from a Cabinet role to a position at the State Department, where she continues to focus on security matters in the Western Hemisphere.

(UPDATED October 16, 2026 19:02 UTC)

Kristi Noem has transitioned to a new role as a Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary Landau while continuing her work on the Shield of the Americas portfolio. She is no longer serving as the Trump administration's envoy to the Shield of the Americas initiative, a change that came after her remarks to lawmakers about Trump's approval of her agency's significant advertising expenditures. Previously, Noem reported directly to Landau in her capacity as special envoy.

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(UPDATED October 16, 2026 18:02 UTC)

Kristi Noem has transitioned to a new role at the State Department after her special envoy status expired, where she now serves as a Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary Landau, continuing her work on the Shield of the Americas portfolio. During a recent meeting at the United Nations General Assembly, Trump praised Noem, saying, “I want to thank Kristi Noem for doing a really terrific job,” while announcing that Markwayne Mullin would replace her following her ouster. Noem's departure came after she stated that Trump approved of her agency’s lavish spending on an advertising campaign, which reportedly left him unhappy.