Departure follows brief tenure as agency spokesperson, with Zacharia citing personal and family considerations.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

The Department of Homeland Security’s top spokesperson, Katie Zacharia, announced Wednesday that she is stepping down from her role after approximately six weeks in the position.

In a statement shared on X, Zacharia said she joined the department with the goal of supporting the administration’s immigration and homeland security policies. “I joined [DHS] with a genuine passion for supporting [Donald Trump] in his decisive and effective policies to secure our homeland, be a voice for the precious Angel Families, and an advocate for the men and women of [ICE],” she wrote in a post.

“I look forward to continuing that work in other capacities. God bless America, God Bless President Trump, and I am grateful to be alive during the presidencies of [Donald Trump],” she added.

Zacharia had taken over the role from Tricia McLaughlin, who departed after serving for roughly one year.

No official reason for the transition was initially provided. A report by the Daily Beast suggested that Zacharia’s connections to political figure Corey Lewandowski played a role in her departure. In a phone interview with Just the News, Zacharia denied that claim, stating she first met Lewandowski, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and McLaughlin during a February 2026 meeting related to a potential communications role.

Additional reporting from the Daily Mail cited a source who described aspects of Zacharia’s early responsibilities as administrative in nature.

Zacharia said her decision to leave was primarily driven by the demands of frequent travel between Washington and California, which she said created strain on her family.

Before departing, she said she had the opportunity to congratulate newly confirmed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and expressed continued support for his leadership, as well as for Tom Homan and the department’s broader mission.

The Department of Homeland Security has not yet announced a successor to the spokesperson role.