What is 'Shield of the Americas'? Kristi Noem takes new role after DHS ousting
What is 'Shield of the Americas'? Kristi Noem takes new role after DHS ousting
Kate Perez, USA TODAYThu, March 5, 2026 at 8:41 PM UTC
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What is 'Shield of the Americas'? Kristi Noem takes new role after DHS ousting
President Donald Trump ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her role on March 5, announcing on social media that she would be replaced and become special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, the president's initiative for security against narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.
Noem will be succeeded by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, effective March 31. The former secretary's job shift comes ahead of the "Shield of the Americas" Summit scheduled for March 7, a meeting between U.S. federal officials including Trump, as well as a dozen Latin American leaders in Florida.
Here's what we know so far about the Shield of the Americas.
1 / 0Trump fires Kristi Noem as DHS Secretary. See her political career.President Donald Trump stands with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Representative Zach Nunn (R-IA), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA), upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews following a visit to Iowa, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, July 4, 2025.What is the Shield of the Americas?
Information is limited on the Shield of the Americas and the role Noem might play in her new position, though Trump described it as a "security initiative" in his post announcing the job switch.
"The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida," Trump wrote on social media. "I thank Kristi for her service at 'Homeland.'"
According to the post, more information about the security initiative is set to be announced March 7 while at the Shield of the Americas Summit. It is unclear if Noem will be present at the summit.
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Initial news: Trump fires Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary
What is the Shield of the Americas Summit?
Trump is expected to attend the upcoming Shield of the Americas Summit to discuss strategies to bolster U.S. leadership and coalition in the Western Hemisphere alongside the Latin American leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed at a briefing March 4.
Last week: Kristi Noem DHS oversight hearing sparks tense debate
Leavitt added at the briefing the meeting aims to "promote freedom, security, and prosperity in our region."
"President will be speaking with the leaders of this country who have really formed a historic coalition to work together to address criminal, narcoterrorist gangs and cartels and counter illegal and mass migration into not only the United States, but the Western Hemisphere, which remains a key and top priority of this President," Leavitt said.
The White House's social media accounts and some other Latin American leadership have posted about the upcoming summit but have not publicly released information detailing what it might entail.
Contributing: Bart Jansen, USA TODAY.
Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on X @katecperez_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Noem moves to 'Shield of the Americas' role after DHS. What is it?
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