Rep. Chellie Pingree welcomed Kristi Noem’s firing on Thursday as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, saying it was “long overdue” and criticizing Noem’s tenure as “one of the most corrupt, reckless and disgraceful chapters in the department’s history.”

The Democratic lawmaker representing Maine’s 1st Congressional District made her remarks in response to President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would be replacing Noem with Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma.

Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District, also cheered Noem’s ouster.

“Firing Secretary Noem was the right decision,” Golden said in a statement. “I hope Senator Markwayne Mullin is prepared to do a better job.” 

Noem, who will now serve as a special envoy on a new security initiative, had been facing increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, escalating in a congressional hearing this week in which she faced rare criticism from Republican lawmakers. She was questioned about a $220 million ad campaign encouraging people in the country illegally to leave voluntarily.

Noem said Trump was aware of the campaign in advance, but the president disputed that, saying in an interview with Reuters that he did not sign off on it.

Noem has also faced criticism since overseeing Trump’s crackdown on immigration, especially following the shooting deaths of two people in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration enforcement officers this year.

Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that Noem “has served us well” and thanked her for her service.

“Markwayne will work tirelessly to Keep our Border Secure, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, End the Scourge of Illegal Drugs and, MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN,” Trump wrote.

Under Noem’s leadership, DHS “abandoned its core mission of protecting the American people and instead became a political weapon,” Pingree said.

She said the next DHS secretary will need to reform the department, especially U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Pingree also said that Noem’s firing “does not move the needle” for her on funding the department, which has been shut down for 20 days due to an ongoing budget dispute in Congress.

“We must confront the abuses that occurred under Noem, demand transparency from this administration, and pursue reforms that ensure our immigration system respects the law, protects civil liberties, and treats people with basic humanity,” Pingree said.

Other members of Maine’s congressional delegation did not immediately weigh in Thursday on Noem’s departure. A spokesperson for Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said King did not have a comment but would weigh in during the nomination and confirmation process for the next DHS secretary.

A spokesperson for Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, did not respond to phone messages or emails Thursday afternoon.

Mullin will need to be confirmed by the Senate, but under federal law he is allowed to serve as an acting secretary as long as his nomination is formally pending.

This story contains reporting by The Associated Press.

This is a developing story.