Noem Confirms Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin’s Departure From DHS

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Tuesday the departure of her assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, confirming anonymously sourced reports that McLaughlin would be exiting the administration.

“Tricia McLaughlin has served with exceptional dedication, tenacity, and professionalism as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security,” Noem wrote in a post on X, adding that “we are grateful for her service and wish Tricia nothing but success.”

Without saying when or why McLaughlin would leave, Noem said the assistant secretary “has played an instrumental role in advancing our mission to secure the homeland and keep Americans safe.”

In a Feb. 17 post on social media, McLaughlin expressed gratitude for her time in the role.

“I am enormously grateful to President Trump, Secretary Noem, and the American people for the honor and privilege to serve this great nation,” she said. “I am immensely proud of the team we built and the historic accomplishments achieved by this Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.”

McLaughlin also announced changes within the department’s communications team, saying Lauren Bis, who has worked with her since the first day of the Trump administration, would take over as assistant secretary for public affairs. She added that Katie Zacharia would serve as spokeswoman and deputy assistant secretary for public affairs.

A source familiar with the matter told The Epoch Times that McLaughlin was already planning to leave the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in December 2025, but her departure was pushed back after the shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis amid immigration enforcement operations.

DHS oversees two immigration-related agencies: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection. Both agencies have come under fire in recent weeks after the shootings.

Earlier in February, White House border czar Tom Homan announced that ICE and Border Patrol officials would begin to depart Minneapolis. He said over the past weekend that a small-scale force of agents would remain on the ground there to deal with possible threats against immigration agents.

Since joining DHS, McLaughlin had become one of the Trump administration’s most vocal defenders, particularly in its handling of mass deportations, and in recent months pointed out threats of violence faced by ICE agents.

In the first Trump administration, McLaughlin served as chief of staff for nuclear arms control at the Department of State and also in the public affairs office at the Treasury Department. Later, she worked as a spokeswoman for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and for GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s 2024 presidential campaign.

This week, an impasse in Congress over policies around ICE agents led to the shutdown of DHS. Democrats have said they want agents to take off their masks, while Republicans have balked at their suggestions.

“These are commonsense proposals,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told CNN on Sunday, referring to not allowing masks and having them wear body cameras. “They’re supported by the American people. Why won’t Republicans go for them? They don’t give any good answers. It’s something that every police department does across the country.”

Meanwhile, Republicans on the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees accused Democrats of creating a national security crisis by allowing DHS funding to lapse.

“It is a setback for national security and for American families. TSA, Coast Guard, and Secret Service personnel will be forced to work without pay,” said House Republicans on the committees in a statement on Feb. 13, referring to the Transportation Security Administration. “FEMA disaster response will slow. Cyber defenses and counterterrorism efforts will weaken. Law enforcement programs that protect children and trafficking victims will be impacted.”

McLaughlin’s departure comes as ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan last month confirmed she would be leaving her position, according to an ICE post on X. Later, Sheahan revealed she is running for Congress in Ohio, promoted herself as a pro-Trump Republican, and highlighted her work in ICE.

The Epoch Times contacted DHS for comment on Tuesday.

Troy Myers contributed to this report.