Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, tendered her resignation Tuesday and is expected to leave the department at the end of next week.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday that the department is sad to see her leave.
“Tricia McLaughlin has served with exceptional dedication, tenacity, and professionalism as assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security,” Ms. Noem said. “She has played an instrumental role in advancing our mission to secure the homeland and keep Americans safe. While we are sad to see her leave, we are grateful for her service and wish Tricia nothing but success.”
The abrupt end of her tenure comes as DHS is embroiled in a heated political debate over President Trump’s mass deportations, including a spending showdown with congressional Democrats that resulted in an ongoing partial shutdown of the department.
Ms. McLaughlin has weathered criticism for her comments supporting the DHS mission, such as her initial responses to the fatal shootings of anti-ICE protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.
She was criticized for labeling Mr. Pretti, the second Minneapolis resident shot and killed during confrontations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, a “domestic terrorist.”
“Media is so much of the battle, so to speak, on the immigration issue,” Ms. McLaughlin recently said in an interview with The Cincinnati Enquirer. “So much of the debate is a [public relations] debate. It’s a PR war.”
When asked if she would ever run for office if she returned to her Ohio hometown, she said she “wouldn’t rule anything out.”
The reason for Ms. McLaughlin’s exit is unclear.
She began planning her departure in December and put her plans on hold due to the shooting deaths in Minneapolis, according to Politico, which first reported on Ms. McLaughlin’s departure.
Before landing the DHS job, Ms. McLaughlin served as a top communications aide to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and on Vivek Ramaswamy’s 2024 presidential campaign.
She also served in the first Trump administration at the Treasury Department and the State Department.
Ms. McLaughlin is the latest top DHS official to leave around the one-year mark of the second Trump administration. Last month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Madison Sheahan announced that she would step down from her position to run for Congress in Ohio.
Lauren Bis, Ms. McLaughlin’s deputy, will be promoted to assistant secretary of public affairs, Axios reported.
The department is also tapping Katie Zacharia as deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Public Affairs. Ms. Zacharia is a Fox News commentator and adviser to Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell.
The reshaping of the DHS public affairs team comes as Ms. Noem has been a target for criticism for her leadership.
The Trump administration officials privately criticized her to The Wall Street Journal, citing “constant chaos” within DHS.
• Mary McCue Bell can be reached at mbell@washingtontimes.com.
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