President Donald Trump took Washington by surprise Thursday with his decision to remove Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, but few lawmakers on Capitol Hill questioned his decision. 

Though Republicans rarely criticized Noem during her tenure, many GOP lawmakers argued Thursday that the secretary’s ouster was the right move. Trump quickly nominated Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., a close ally, to head the sprawling agency Thursday afternoon.

‘I think the president is doing what’s necessary to make sure the department is going to be operating effectively,’ Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who welcomed the news of Mullin’s appointment, said Thursday. ‘It was time.’

Mullin, a 48-year-old lawmaker, is a member of Senate Republicans’ leadership team and previously served several terms in the House of Representatives.

Noem’s time helming DHS was rocked by a series of controversies involving an expensive ad campaign she claimed had Trump’s approval and her widely-panned response to the fatal shootings of two Americans in Minneapolis by federal immigration officers earlier this year.

‘Obviously, it did not go well,’ Donalds added when asked about Noem’s appearance during two hearings on Capitol Hill this week.

Several GOP lawmakers, including Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Kennedy, R-La., tore into Noem during her appearance before the Senate’s judiciary panel on Tuesday. 

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a moderate lawmaker retiring at the end of his term, echoed Kennedy’s criticism questioning Noem’s prominent role in the costly ad campaign and her ties to recipients awarded contracts.

‘There’s legit concerns. When there was a $200 million advertising [campaign], we should be better stewards of our money,’ Bacon said. ‘I think the president probably saw a need for change.’

DHS has fired back that the massive ad campaign resulted in millions of self-deportations.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital Thursday that Noem’s departure would eliminate ‘distractions’ and ‘conflicts’ that erupted at DHS under her leadership.

‘The department needs to be entirely focused on its mission, given the situation in the Middle East right now,’ Lawler said, referring to Operation Epic Fury in Iran. 

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., who is not running for reelection, wrote on social media Thursday that a ‘change in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security was long overdue.’

House Democrats, many of whom fiercely criticized Noem’s role in the Trump administration, appeared to agree.

‘She’s done enough damage that the president finally came to his senses,’ Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the lead Democrat on the House homeland security panel, said Thursday. 

‘I think it’s the right decision by the president. It’s been a long time coming,’ Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., told Fox News Digital.

Moskowitz, who tussled with Noem during her testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, argued that she would go down as the worst DHS secretary in the agency’s two-decade history. He declined, however, to sign on to articles of impeachment circulated by House Democrats.

When asked about Mullin’s appointment, Moskowitz said he wished him good luck. ‘She’s left him a disaster, but obviously I want him to succeed,’ the Florida Democrat said of Noem’s tenure. ‘We should all want that, so let’s give him that opportunity.’

Dozens of Democrats have voted against a nonbinding resolution in the House that reaffirms Iran as the ‘largest state sponsor of terrorism.’

The resolution, put forward by Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., passed by a 372-53 vote on Thursday, with all those voting no being Democrats. Two Democrats also voted present. 

Among those who voted against the measure were all the members of the ‘Squad,’ such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. 

The resolution said the Islamic Republic of Iran ‘remains the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and provides substantial financial and military support to groups including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.’

It added that Iran ‘poses a direct and persistent threat to the United States and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American citizens,’ citing the Pentagon as saying that ‘Iranian-backed proxy militias are responsible for the deaths of at least 603 U.S. service members in Iraq — roughly one in every six American combat fatalities.’ 

It also said, ‘according to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafeal Grossi, Iran has amassed a large stockpile of enriched uranium and continues to block access to undeclared sites in Iran affiliated with their ‘big, ambitious nuclear weapons program.’’ 

The resolution concludes by saying, ‘That the House of Representatives declares it is the policy of the United States… that Iran continues to be the largest state sponsor of terrorism.’

California Democratic Rep. Lateefah Simon, who voted no, claimed the resolution ‘contains inaccuracies and is designed to justify the President’s actions in Iran.’

‘Republicans in Congress are not only surrendering their constitutional duties – they are also playing politics with a resolution reaffirming Iran as a leading state sponsor of terrorism,’ Simon wrote on Facebook. ‘That is already U.S. policy.’

‘I have been clear about my opposition to the brutal and devastating actions of the Iranian regime against those protesting for freedom,’ Simon continued. ‘This resolution does nothing to advance their freedom and instead, puts Congress on record as giving the Administration further pretext for a war that should not have been started in the first place.’

Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., who voted in favor of the resolution, said in a statement that, ‘This week’s bipartisan classified briefing with Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, John Ratcliffe, and General Dan Caine underscored the significance of the threat we face from an Iran intent on developing nuclear weapons behind a curtain of impenetrable ballistic weapons.’ 

‘Standing with our allies and confronting state-sponsored terrorism is essential to protecting Americans and advancing stability around the world,’ she added. ‘This resolution sends a strong message that we will not ignore or excuse the regime’s extremist actions.’

Rep. Adam Smith, a Democrat from Washington state who also voted in favor of the resolution, said, ‘I agree with the principal assertion of this resolution that Iran is a bad actor. 

‘Iran’s malign and destabilizing actions in the region and treatment of its own citizens should be denounced. I have never contested this. What I do contest is that going to war is the reasonable response to this assertion,’ he continued. ‘I support this resolution. I do not support the president’s war of choice with Iran.’ 

Full list of 53 House Democrats who voted no:

Here are the full names of the Democratic House lawmakers listed alphabetically by last name:

1. Donald S. Beyer Jr.
2. Suzanne Bonamici
3. André Carson
4. Greg Casar
5. Joaquin Castro
6. Yvette D. Clarke
7. Steve Cohen
8. Danny K. Davis
9. Maxine Dexter
10. Lloyd Doggett
11. Dwight Evans
12. Lizzie Fletcher
13. Valerie Foushee
14. Maxwell Alejandro Frost
15. Robert Garcia
16. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García
17. Al Green
18. Raúl M. Grijalva
19. Val Hoyle
20. Jared Huffman
21. Sara Jacobs
22. Pramila Jayapal
23. Henry C. ‘Hank’ Johnson, Jr.
24. Robin Kelly
25. Ro Khanna
26. Raja Krishnamoorthi
27. Summer Lee
28. Sarah McBride
29. Morgan McGarvey
30. James P. McGovern
31. LaMonica McIver
32. Christian D. Menefee
33. Robert Jacobsen ‘Rob’ Menendez Jr.
34. Gwen Moore
35. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
36. Ilhan Omar
37. Chellie Pingree
38. Mark Pocan
39. Ayanna Pressley
40. Delia Ramirez
41. Emily Randall
42. Luz Rivas
43. Linda T. Sánchez
44. Janice D. ‘Jan’ Schakowsky
45. Lateefah Simon
46. Mark Takano
47. Rashida Tlaib
48. Lori Trahan
49. Lauren Underwood
50. Nydia M. Velázquez
51. Maxine Waters
52. Bonnie Watson Coleman
53. Nikema Williams.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., will have at least one Democratic ‘yes’ vote in support of his nomination to become President Donald Trump’s next Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary. 

Trump announced Thursday afternoon that he tapped Mullin to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who will leave the agency March 31. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., immediately threw his support behind Mullin’s nomination, dubbing the Oklahoma lawmaker a ‘nice upgrade’ compared to Noem. 

Fetterman repeatedly called for Noem’s ouster and said Thursday he was pleased with Trump’s decision. 

‘We’re in a different party, but this is the choice. I want to work together for making our America more secure,’ he said. 

Fetterman also said that he strongly believes Mullin already has the votes to win confirmation. Senate Republicans are widely expected to back Mullin’s nomination, and the jovial Oklahoma lawmaker could win over some Democrats. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who has voted against some Trump nominees, said she has a ‘great deal of respect’ for Mullin and is ‘OK’ with his nomination.

Under Senate rules, Cabinet nominations are set at a 51-vote threshold. 

However, many of Fetterman’s Democratic colleagues were either noncommittal about Mullin’s nomination or suggested they would not support him.

‘Whoever follows Kristi Noem is going to have to be totally and radically different in their approach to running this agency,’ Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Thursday. ‘Changing the person at the top is no substitute for changing the practices and the power structure of a department that is out of control.’

Blumenthal added that Mullin would have to commit to Democrats’ various reforms seeking to rein in immigration enforcement in order to win his vote. 

Mullin has repeatedly criticized Democrats’ proposal to prohibit federal immigration officers from wearing masks and requiring judicial warrants during enforcement operations.

‘I like him personally,’ Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, a member of Senate Democratic leadership, said of Mullin before adding that it was too early to debate his nomination.

Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., told Fox News Digital that they would not yet weigh in on Mullin’s nomination. Slotkin notably voted for Noem’s confirmation despite later souring on the secretary.

Mullin appeared somewhat taken aback by the news of his nomination when talking with reporters outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday afternoon.

‘No, the president and I still have to communicate, so we’ll talk about it moving forward,’ Mullin said. ‘The president and I have already talked… I’ll talk to you all [later].’

Fetterman has been the lone Democrat to advance a DHS spending measure amid a funding standoff over the agency’s appropriations that has no clear end in sight.

He poured cold water on the prospect of his Democratic colleagues reversing course to support funding DHS in response to Mullin’s nomination, telling reporters he expected ‘no change’ with the partial shutdown.

An Iranian ship offloaded more than 200 members of its crew to Sri Lanka on Friday after suffering an engine failure at sea, just days after a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in an Indian Ocean torpedo attack. 

The IRIS Bushehr, described in previous Iranian media reports as a navy logistics ship, is being brought first to the port of Colombo, according to Sri Lanka navy spokesman Cmdr. Buddhika Sampath. Sailors are being taken to a naval base in Welisara following medical exams and immigration procedures. 

‘We have to understand that this is not an ordinary situation,’ Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said Thursday. ‘It’s a request by a ship belonging to one party to enter into our port. We have to consider that according to the international treaties and conventions.’ 

Dissanayake added that authorities decided to take control of the IRIS Bushehr following discussions with Iranian officials and the ship’s captain, after one of its engines failed. He said some crew members would remain on board to help the Sri Lankan navy later navigate the vessel to Trincomalee on the island’s northeast coast, about 165 miles from Colombo.

The moves come after the U.S. sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka’s coast on Wednesday.  

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said it was ‘the first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.’ 

The Indian navy said Thursday that it had initiated search and rescue operations after receiving a distress signal from the Dena, deploying two aircraft along with a sailing training vessel. By the time the response was launched, the Sri Lankan navy had already started its own rescue efforts, it said.

The Sri Lankan navy rescued 32 sailors and recovered 87 bodies after the attack, according to The Associated Press. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Thursday that the U.S. will ‘bitterly regret’ striking and sinking that ship. 

‘The U.S. has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores,’ Araqchi wrote on X. ‘Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning.’

‘Mark my words: The U.S. will come to bitterly regret precedent it has set,’ he added. 

Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine told reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday that the Iranian vessel was ‘effectively neutralized’ in a Navy ‘fast attack’ using a single Mark 48 torpedo.

He added that the U.S. Navy achieved ‘immediate effect, sending the warship to the bottom of the sea.’ 

Fox News’ Stephen Sorace, Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

President Donald Trump took Washington by surprise Thursday with his decision to remove Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, but few lawmakers on Capitol Hill questioned his decision. 

Though Republicans rarely criticized Noem during her tenure, many GOP lawmakers argued Thursday that the secretary’s ouster was the right move. Trump quickly nominated Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., a close ally, to head the sprawling agency Thursday afternoon.

‘I think the president is doing what’s necessary to make sure the department is going to be operating effectively,’ Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who welcomed the news of Mullin’s appointment, said Thursday. ‘It was time.’

Mullin, a 48-year-old lawmaker, is a member of Senate Republicans’ leadership team and previously served several terms in the House of Representatives.

Noem’s time helming DHS was rocked by a series of controversies involving an expensive ad campaign she claimed had Trump’s approval and her widely-panned response to the fatal shootings of two Americans in Minneapolis by federal immigration officers earlier this year.

‘Obviously, it did not go well,’ Donalds added when asked about Noem’s appearance during two hearings on Capitol Hill this week.

Several GOP lawmakers, including Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Kennedy, R-La., tore into Noem during her appearance before the Senate’s judiciary panel on Tuesday. 

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a moderate lawmaker retiring at the end of his term, echoed Kennedy’s criticism questioning Noem’s prominent role in the costly ad campaign and her ties to recipients awarded contracts.

‘There’s legit concerns. When there was a $200 million advertising [campaign], we should be better stewards of our money,’ Bacon said. ‘I think the president probably saw a need for change.’

DHS has fired back that the massive ad campaign resulted in millions of self-deportations.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., told Fox News Digital Thursday that Noem’s departure would eliminate ‘distractions’ and ‘conflicts’ that erupted at DHS under her leadership.

‘The department needs to be entirely focused on its mission, given the situation in the Middle East right now,’ Lawler said, referring to Operation Epic Fury in Iran. 

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., who is not running for reelection, wrote on social media Thursday that a ‘change in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security was long overdue.’

House Democrats, many of whom fiercely criticized Noem’s role in the Trump administration, appeared to agree.

‘She’s done enough damage that the president finally came to his senses,’ Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the lead Democrat on the House homeland security panel, said Thursday. 

‘I think it’s the right decision by the president. It’s been a long time coming,’ Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., told Fox News Digital.

Moskowitz, who tussled with Noem during her testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, argued that she would go down as the worst DHS secretary in the agency’s two-decade history. He declined, however, to sign on to articles of impeachment circulated by House Democrats.

When asked about Mullin’s appointment, Moskowitz said he wished him good luck. ‘She’s left him a disaster, but obviously I want him to succeed,’ the Florida Democrat said of Noem’s tenure. ‘We should all want that, so let’s give him that opportunity.’