'She's gone': Mood at DHS shifts after Kristi Noem's departure, sources say
After word came that President Donald Trump fired Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Thursday, the mood at the department suddenly shifted, a source inside the agency told ABC News.
"She's gone," the source told ABC News, saying that there was a sigh of relief within the agency.
Noem is slated to leave her position on March 31, according to Trump, and will take a newly created position, Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas. The president said more details of that position would be revealed on Saturday.
Trump named Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin as her replacement.
Noem's departure marked months of controversy and internal struggles inside the department, according to sources, with the secretary coming under scrutiny for her multimillion dollar advertising campaigns, photo ops during Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and her statements following of the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis.
Noem and her chief adviser Corey Lewandowski -- who is reportedly also departing DHS -- both had a knack for lashing out, yelling and berating staff that crossed them, according to sources.
It followed a pattern that was consistent through her time at DHS: She never took accountability for the department's missteps, according to former and current officials within DHS, and instead pointed the finger at others.
During her first appearance as secretary after she was sworn in, she walked out to the Trace Adkins song "Hot Mama," which bewildered DHS staff, sources said.
Noem was preparing to go on stage to deliver a speech at the Sergeant Benevolent Association Major Cities Conference in Nashville when she received a call from Trump to let her know her that she was out, per two sources familiar with the conversation.
Noem took the stage and made no mention of the fact she had just been fired.
In a social media post later Thursday, Noem thanked Trump for the new appointment.
"In this new role, I will be able to build on the partnerships and national security expertise, I forged over the last 13 months as Secretary of Homeland Security," Noem said.
Mullin's path to DHS secretary
It is unclear what Noem's duties will be during her lame-duck period or when Mullin will be confirmed by the Senate to take over.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a social media post that the White House would move quickly to get Mullin confirmed, but did not offer an exact timeframe.
Mullin will ultimately only need a simple majority of votes in the Senate to be confirmed, which means he can be confirmed by the body without any Democratic support. Though he's expected to easily be confirmed, the process can still take some time.
Noem emailed DHS staff overnight informing them that her official final day at the department will be March 31 and stating she looks forward to "continuing to work with you all" in her new role, according to a copy of the email obtained by ABC News.
While Trump said Mullin would become the next DHS secretary effective March 31, it's not clear whether Trump is anticipating Mullin to be confirmed by then.
Mullin is not able to serve as the acting DHS secretary effective March 31, according to the Vacancies Act, which says that individuals who are nominated to a vacant Senate-confirmed position cannot serve in an acting capacity.
If Mullin is not confirmed by the Senate before Noem's departure date on March 31 it is likely they would have to tap someone else as acting, or go without.
ABC News' Ivan Periera, Will Steakin and Rachel Scott contributed to this report.
