Markwayne Mullin to Keep Kristi Noem’s No. 2 at DHS

The Department of Homeland Security’s second-in-command will remain in that role after the White House withdrew his nomination to be ambassador to El Salvador, a DHS spokesperson confirmed Monday.

Troy Edgar served as deputy secretary to then-DHS chief Kristi Noem until December, when President Donald Trump announced he was nominating Edgar for the ambassadorship. But Edgar’s profile returned to the department’s website Monday.

“DHS is fortunate to have Deputy Secretary Troy Edgar continue in his role,” department spokesperson Lauren Bis said in a statement to NOTUS. “He brings valuable knowledge of the Department from the President’s first term when he served as DHS’ Chief Financial Officer. He will play an integral role in helping to make America safe again.”

In March, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on Edgar’s nomination, but the White House dropped his ambassador nod Monday.

Politico first reported that Edgar had returned to the department after Noem was ousted. Citing anonymous department officials, the news outlet said Edgar never officially resigned, so he was easily able to resume the Senate-confirmed position.

Newly minted DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin welcomed Edgar back.

“Troy Edgar is a valuable player in the Department’s efforts to make America safe again,” Mullin said in a statement to NOTUS. “We are one team united to empower DHS leadership to fulfill the President’s mandate from the American people to remove criminal illegal aliens, secure our borders, protect our cyberspace, and secure our maritime borders. His knowledge of the Department makes him a valuable member of our DHS team.”

The Senate confirmed Mullin, a former Oklahoma senator, last month as DHS secretary. Since taking over, Mullin has ended Noem’s spending sign-off policy and floated ideas to remove customs agents from international airports in so-called sanctuary cities.