Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and a prominent defender of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, is set to leave her post next week. The news, first reported by Politico and confirmed by Axios, marks a significant reshuffling within the agency’s public affairs team at a time when the Trump administration faces both a partial government shutdown and heated debates in Congress over immigration and law enforcement reforms.
According to sources cited by Politico, McLaughlin will inform her coworkers of her planned departure on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Her exit comes after she postponed her original plans to leave in December, choosing to remain at DHS in the wake of the tragic shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The agency, under the leadership of Secretary Kristi Noem, has been grappling with a funding lapse, further complicating the already turbulent environment surrounding her departure.
Secretary Noem took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, February 16, to publicly thank McLaughlin for her service. "Tricia McLaughlin has served with exceptional dedication, tenacity, and professionalism as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security," Noem wrote. "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."
McLaughlin’s tenure at DHS has been marked by her energetic promotion of President Trump’s immigration agenda—a role that has often put her at the center of national debates and media scrutiny. As Axios noted, she has spearheaded the agency’s high-octane efforts to communicate and defend the administration’s controversial policies, making her a familiar face to both supporters and critics of the Trump White House.
The immediate aftermath of her departure will see Lauren Bis, McLaughlin’s deputy and an early hire in Trump’s second term, step into the role of Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs. Bis’s promotion, confirmed by both Politico and Axios, signals an intent to maintain continuity within the public affairs office. Bis has worked closely with McLaughlin and is expected to continue the agency’s current messaging strategy, especially as DHS navigates the ongoing funding challenges and political disputes over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reforms.
But the shakeup doesn’t end there. Axios reports that DHS is also bringing in Katie Zacharia, a Fox News commentator and former adviser to Richard Grenell, who is currently serving as interim head of the Trump-Kennedy Center and was previously the U.S. Ambassador to Germany. Zacharia will join the Office of Public Affairs as deputy assistant secretary, according to a person familiar with the matter. Her background in conservative media and foreign policy advising is likely to further bolster the department’s communications team as it seeks to defend and promote the administration’s policies in a contentious election year.
McLaughlin’s career before her latest DHS role was already steeped in political communications and public affairs. According to the DHS website and reporting by Politico, she previously served as the political communications director for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, where she honed her skills in state-level messaging and crisis management. She also played a significant role as a senior adviser on Vivek Ramaswamy’s 2024 Republican presidential campaign, further cementing her reputation as a go-to strategist for conservative political figures.
Her experience extends into the first Trump administration as well. McLaughlin worked at the Treasury Department under then-Secretary Steven Mnuchin, serving as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary focused on economic sanctions—a position that required deft handling of sensitive international issues. She also served at the State Department as Chief of Staff for Nuclear Arms Control, taking on responsibilities that bridged both diplomacy and security policy. This breadth of experience made her a natural fit for the top public affairs role at DHS, where the intersection of security, communication, and politics is an everyday reality.
McLaughlin’s roots are in Ohio, a state that has produced its fair share of political heavyweights. Her rise through the ranks of both state and federal government reflects a career shaped by the shifting tides of Republican politics over the past decade. Her time at DHS, particularly in the Trump era, has been defined by a willingness to engage directly with both the press and the public on controversial issues, often serving as the agency’s most visible spokesperson during crises or policy rollouts.
The timing of McLaughlin’s departure is notable. DHS is currently facing a funding lapse as a result of the partial government shutdown, a situation that has put added pressure on the agency’s leadership and communications staff. Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans in Congress remain locked in a contentious debate over ICE reforms and broader immigration policy—a battle that has only intensified as the 2026 election cycle heats up. McLaughlin’s exit, delayed in part out of respect for the victims of the Minneapolis shootings, comes at a moment when DHS’s public messaging is under intense scrutiny from both sides of the aisle.
Her successor, Lauren Bis, will inherit a challenging portfolio. Bis has been described by colleagues as a steady hand and a committed member of the Trump administration’s communications team. Her promotion is seen as a move to ensure stability and continuity, especially as DHS continues to promote the president’s immigration agenda amid fierce opposition from Democrats and advocacy groups. The addition of Katie Zacharia, with her media savvy and political connections, is expected to further strengthen the department’s ability to navigate the turbulent waters of Washington politics.
As the agency moves forward, the reshaped public affairs team will be tasked with defending controversial policies, managing crises, and shaping public perception at a time when trust in government remains a hot-button issue. The stakes are high, and the challenges are many. But as Secretary Noem’s statement made clear, McLaughlin leaves behind a legacy of "dedication, tenacity, and professionalism"—qualities that will be needed in abundance as DHS faces the months ahead.
For McLaughlin, the next chapter remains to be written. With a resume that spans state government, presidential campaigns, and two stints in the Trump administration, she leaves DHS with a wealth of experience and, by all accounts, the respect of her colleagues. As the agency she leaves behind adapts to new leadership and new challenges, her imprint on its public affairs strategy is likely to be felt for some time to come.