New DHS Leader Takes Helm: What Changes for Driver Enforcement

Key Details President Trump removed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5, nominating Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as her replacement with an expected start date of March 31. Mullin's confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security Committee is scheduled for March 18. Why This Matters for Trucking For the past year, coordinated enforcement between the Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland Security has reshaped the trucking driver pool more than any other industry factor. The March 16 Final Rule on non-domiciled CDLs is projected to eliminate eligibility for 97% of roughly 200,000 non-domiciled CDL holders who don't meet new H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visa standards. FTR Transportation Intelligence projects capacity tightening not seen since 2021 if enforcement continues at current levels. What Changed Noem's removal was not voluntary. She became politically toxic due to a fatal shooting incident involving federal immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis that killed two U.S. citizens, plus criticism over private jet travel and expensive DHS advertising campaigns. Her departure raises questions about whether the enforcement direction will shift or simply continue under new leadership. What Drivers Should Watch Markwayne Mullin's confirmation and policy priorities will determine if immigration enforcement intensity continues or changes. This enforcement operation has driven FMCSA to remove over 7,000 CDL schools and prompted California to revoke 17,000 CDLs.