Troy Edgar remains in his role as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security after the White House withdrew his ambassador nomination to El Salvador on April 13, 2026, according to Politico and White House records.
Edgar had been nominated by President Trump in December 2025 to serve as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador. He had a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing in early March 2026, but the White House formally withdrew the nomination just weeks later as the DHS leadership landscape shifted dramatically.
The ambassador nomination came after Edgar’s relationship with then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem deteriorated, according to Politico reporting. Edgar was tapped for the ambassadorship essentially as an ousting from his deputy secretary position while Noem’s tenure appeared imperiled at the end of 2025. When Noem was removed from her position in early March 2026, the dynamics changed. Trump named Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin as her replacement, effective March 31, 2026.
Mullin had preferred to keep Edgar in the deputy secretary role, and Edgar returned to DHS headquarters in April 2026 after the ambassador nomination was withdrawn. He had never formally resigned from his Senate-confirmed deputy secretary position, allowing him to quickly resume the role under the new secretary. DHS confirmed Edgar’s return, with DHS Secretary Mullin stating that Edgar brings “valuable knowledge” from his time as DHS chief financial officer during Trump’s first term and his decades of private-sector executive experience.
However, recent reporting from Politico on July 17, 2026, indicates that Trump administration officials have grown increasingly frustrated with Edgar just months into his return. Some officials have discussed replacing him, according to current and former DHS officials. Critics say Edgar inserts himself in issues beyond his purview and engages in micromanagement that conflicts with Mullin’s efforts to decentralize decision-making at the agency. One DHS official told Politico, “He wasn’t the right pick to begin with.” Another said, “He has few friends and supporters in the DHS.”
Despite the internal friction, Mullin has remained publicly supportive of Edgar. In a statement to Politico, the DHS secretary said, “Troy Edgar is a key part of my DHS team. I have the utmost trust and respect in Troy.” The White House also disputed the negative reporting, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson stating that “President Trump has total confidence in his DHS team, including Deputy Secretary Edgar.”
Sources
- Politico — Edgar’s April 2026 return as deputy secretary following ambassador nomination withdrawal; Noem-Edgar relationship deterioration
- White House — Confirmation of April 13, 2026 ambassador nomination withdrawal
- DHS — Official confirmation of Edgar’s return and statement on his role
- Politico — July 17, 2026 reporting on internal frustration with Edgar and potential replacement discussions
- U.S. Senate — Nominations withdrawn records confirming April 13 withdrawal date
- AILA — Senate confirmation of Edgar as Deputy Secretary on March 6, 2025 by vote of 53-43
