DHS Assistant Secy. Tricia McLaughlin stepping down from position
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
3:15 PM – Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Tricia McLaughlin, is reportedly set to leave her position next week after serving as the department’s top spokesperson.
According to DHS statements and agency sources, McLaughlin’s departure from the DHS was a long-planned transition she had originally scheduled for December 2025, deferred only by an unexpected surge in the department’s workload.
Sources also claimed that the 31-year-old extended her tenure to help maintain continuity during a turbulent period for the agency.
Nonetheless, in a parting statement to the Washington Examiner, McLaughlin signaled that her work is far from finished, saying, “I’m not leaving the fight. I’m not going anywhere. It’ll just look different.”
“Tricia McLaughlin has served with exceptional dedication, tenacity, and professionalism as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. 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,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, McLaughlin’s departure comes at a high-stakes moment for the agency, as it is currently grappling with a partial government shutdown and mounting public scrutiny from Senate Democrats who are now demanding that the DHS federally mandate a new “Code of Conduct” for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.
Under the proposed code, agents would be prohibited from wearing masks, required to display visible identification, and forced to keep body cameras activated — measures the Trump administration and Noem have rejected as tactical “handcuffs.”
During her year-long tenure under Secretary Noem, McLaughlin became one of the administration’s most visible and fierce spokespersons. A regular fixture on Fox News, she is known for her assertive style and staunch defense of the administration’s campaign to deport illegal aliens.
Whenever the mainstream media tried to twist or sensationalize a DHS-related story, McLaughlin didn’t hesitate to intervene, laying out the facts and correcting misinformation with both clarity and authority.
This stands in sharp contrast to the Biden administration’s tenure under Marsha Espinosa. As Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Espinosa’s messaging prioritized “racial equity” initiatives and the establishment of equity task forces. Her office was also defined by managing the communication surrounding pandemic-era protocols and the transition away from Title 42.
What’s Next?
As McLaughlin prepares for her long-planned exit, the administration is ensuring a seamless transition by tapping internal talent and veteran voices for the role.
Lauren Bis, who has been instrumental as McLaughlin’s deputy, is set to step into the role of Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs to maintain the department’s momentum. Strengthening the team further, Fox News analyst and legal strategist Katie Zacharia will also join DHS as Deputy Assistant Secretary.
This latest shift follows other high-profile transitions within the agency, including the departure of former ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan, who left to pursue a congressional bid in Ohio with the administration’s blessing.
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