Senate confirms Noem as Trump’s homeland security secretary

January 25, 2025:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary on Saturday (Jan. 25, 2025), putting the South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and President Donald Trump’s plans to clamp down on illegal immigration.

Republicans kept the Senate working Saturday to install the latest member of Trump’s national security team on a 59-34 vote.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was also confirmed in a dramatic tie-breaking vote Friday night, joining Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The Senate will next vote Monday evening on Scott Bessent’s confirmation as treasury secretary.

Noem, a Trump ally who was in her second term as governor, received seven votes from Democrats. Republicans, who already held the votes necessary to confirm her, have expressed confidence in her determination to lead border security and immigration enforcement.

In a statement afterward, she pledged “to secure our southern border and fix our broken immigration system” while working to “detect and prevent terror threats and will deliver rapid assistance and disaster relief to Americans in crisis.”

Noem was scheduled to be sworn in by Vice President JD Vance on Saturday afternoon, but that was called off after she was delayed, according to a person familiar with the events who was not authorized to discuss them and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The homeland security secretary oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Beyond those agencies, the department is also responsible for securing airline transportation, protecting dignitaries, responding to natural disasters and more.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Friday that “fixing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is one of President Trump and Republicans’ top priorities. And it’s going to require a decisive and committed leader” at the department.

Democrats are split on how to handle border enforcement and immigration under Trump, with some warming to his hard-line stand.

Still, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, as well as most other Democrats, voted against Noem. He pointed to “bipartisan solutions to fix the mess at our border,” adding that Noem “seems headed in the wrong direction.”

Trump is planning major changes to how the department functions, including involving the military in immigration enforcement and reshaping the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Those plans will immediately put Noem in the spotlight after the new president visited recent disaster sites in North Carolina and California on Friday.

During her Senate hearing, Noem was repeatedly asked by Democratic senators whether she would administer disaster aid to states even if Trump asked her not to.

Noem avoided saying she would defy the president, but told lawmakers, “I will deliver the programs according to the law and that it will be done with no political bias.”

Six people cycled through as homeland security secretary during Trump’s first four years in office.

Noem, who held her state’s lone U.S. House seat for eight years before becoming governor in 2019, has risen in the GOP by tacking closely with Trump. At one point, she was even under consideration to be his running mate.

Her political stock took a momentary dip, however, when she released a book last year containing an account of her killing her hunting dog, as well as a false claim that she once met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Following her confirmation, she was succeeded as South Dakota governor by Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, a rancher and former state House member who was elected alongside Noem in 2018.

Noem will be tasked with delivering on Trump’s favorite issue, border security. The president’s goals of deporting millions of people who entered the country illegally could put Noem, with her experience governing a rural state and growing up on a farm, in a difficult position. In South Dakota, many migrants, some in the country without permanent legal status, power the labor-heavy jobs that produce food and housing.

She has so far pledged to faithfully execute the president’s orders and copied his talk of an “invasion” at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Noem joined other Republican governors who sent National Guard troops to Texas to assist Operation Lone Star, which sought to discourage migrants. Her decision was especially criticized because she accepted a $1 million donation from a Tennessee billionaire to cover some of the deployment cost.

She said she opted to send National Guard troops “because of this invasion,” adding that “it is a war zone down there.”

January 17, 2025:

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem answered questions from members of the United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Friday (Jan. 17, 2025) during her confirmation hearing to become President-elect Donald Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security.

South Dakota Senator and Senate Majority Leader John Thune gave some introductory remarks to the committee. The Senate’s #1 Republican praised Noem’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and said she has the skill set to correct the national security issues at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Thune said the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border presents concerns ranging from “terrorist entries to cross-border criminal activity like drug trafficking.”

In her opening statement, Noem said “securing our homeland is a serious, sacred trust that must be relentlessly pursued and can never be taken for granted.”

Noem said threats to national security have evolved and the work done by DHS needs to keep up.

Should she be confirmed, Noem would oversee U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services. She would also be responsible for securing airline transportation, protecting dignitaries, responding to natural disasters, among other things.

JANUARY 17, 2025, UPDATE:

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced Gov. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) at the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ Friday (Jan. 17, 2025) confirmation hearing for secretary of homeland security.

Thune’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):

“Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Peters and members of the committee.

“I’m very pleased to be able to be here today to introduce South Dakota’s outstanding governor, who has been nominated by President Trump to serve as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

“I’ve known Kristi Noem for a long time.

“She has a very compelling personal and family story which inspired her entrance into the public arena and I’m sure you’ll hear a little bit more about that from her.

“But I’ve observed as she has gone through the state legislature as a leader there, state House of Representatives; the U.S. House of Representatives, where she was our only member from South Dakota, representing our state’s interests there for eight years; and now currently as South Dakota’s governor.

“And I think she brings to this job a number of things that are going to be really essential, and one is obviously a skillset when it comes to managing hard problems.

“She led our state through the pandemic, managed what were extraordinary circumstances all across this country in a way that made South Dakota, frankly, a magnet for people from other states who were trying to flee or get away from some of the heavy-handed requirements that were imposed in other states around the country.

“Our state stayed open, stayed free, and that was largely due to her leadership.

“And I would say, too, as we tackle what is an enormously complicated and hard issue, which is our southern border, it’s going to require a skillset which I believe she possesses; it’s going to require a tremendous amount of persistence and determination, which I think she has; an enormous amount of energy, which she has in abundance; and frankly, what I would say is just absolute toughness.

“It’s going to take some tough and hard leadership to get things back in order.

“And I want to refer to something she said in her State of the State address earlier this week to South Dakotans, and that is that over the past four years, we’ve seen a complete disregard for the security of our borders and the safety of the American people, to say nothing for the rule of law.

“Chaos at our southern border under the Biden administration has left our country vulnerable to a whole host of security concerns, from terrorist entries to cross-border criminal activity like drug trafficking.

“I think it’s well-documented, and I think it’s high time that it gets fixed, and we have somebody nominated by the president that I believe has the capabilities, the qualities, the experience, and again, frankly, the determination and toughness to solve what is a very, very tough issue and one which is desperately in need of solutions.

“So I’m pleased to be able to be here today to introduce our great governor and to thank you for your consideration.

“I look forward to this committee acting on her nomination, and I look forward to voting for her on the floor of the United States Senate to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

JANUARY 17, 2025:

WASHINGTON (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Donald Trump’s pick to lead the agency central to his vision of cracking down on illegal immigration, will face senators Friday (Jan. 17, 2025) at confirmation hearing that will be her first chance to lay out her vision for the sprawling Department of Homeland Security.

Noem, a two-term governor and former U.S. congresswoman, was chosen by the president-elect to lead the department responsible for key immigration and border-related actions that will be central to his plans for mass deportations and tightened access at the border.

The immigration and border-related agencies Noem would oversee include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Beyond those agencies, the department is also responsible for securing airline transportation, protecting high-profile dignitaries, responding to natural disasters and more.

She would replace outgoing DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was so vilified by Republicans angry at the number of migrants crossing the country’s southern border that they impeached him in early 2024.

Noem would be entering a job that was a pressure cooker under the first Trump administration. Six people cycled through the homeland security secretary position during his four years in office.

So far, she appears to have strong backing from GOP senators who will be crucial to her confirmation.

Sen. Rand Paul, the Republican chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee where Noem will testify, said he expected a straightforward hearing.

“I’m not aware of any real specific complaints from the Democrats on Kristi Noem,” Paul said. “I think there’s a reasonable chance that she gets some Democrat support.”

Still, Democrats are ready to question whether she is qualified to lead a department that is crucial to the country’s safety.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat on the committee, said he had “serious doubts” about her ability to manage “this huge organization of such serious consequence to national security.”

Noem in recent years became a regular presence in Trump’s orbit and at one point was even considered to be his running mate.

The South Dakota governor has echoed Trump’s tough immigration talk.

“Now, the situation at our southern border is nothing short of an invasion. And over the last four years, America’s border security has been purposely weakened and ignored. Our laws have not been enforced,” Noem said during her State of the State address Tuesday.

Noem joined other Republican governors who sent troops to Texas to assist Operation Lone Star, which sought to discourage migrants. The decision was met with particularly harsh criticism because Noem covered most of the deployment cost with a $1 million donation from a Tennessee billionaire who has often donated to Republicans.

JANUARY 14, 2025:

(South Dakota Broadcasters Association)– The U.S. Senate committee responsible for confirming Governor Kristi Noem’s appointment as the secretary of Homeland Security has postponed her confirmation hearing.

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs rescheduled Noem’s appearance Tuesday evening, which was originally set for the following morning. The governor will now appear before the committee on Friday, Jan. 17, at 9 a.m. ET.

According to Politico, the delay may be related to a holdup in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) processing of her paperwork.

“Gov. Noem has expeditiously completed all her paperwork, but we are waiting for the FBI to complete their portion,” a source told the outlet.

Noem’s rescheduled appearance, just three days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, still keeps her on track for a swift confirmation. Trump officials have indicated that Noem is one of several key nominees they hope to fast-track, along with other high-ranking department heads. Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, for instance, made his first appearance before a Senate committee on Tuesday, the first of Trump’s nominees to do so.

The news comes just hours after Noem delivered her annual state of the state address to a joint session of the South Dakota State Legislature. In her speech, she discussed her likely appointment to the DHS post, and re-emphasized the need for urgent action to secure the porous U.S.-Mexico border.

“The situation at our southern border is nothing short of an invasion,” Noem said. “Over the last four years, America’s border security has been purposely weakened and ignored.”

JANUARY 13, 2025:

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the waning days of the Biden administration, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended his agency’s work to tamp down border-crossing numbers and argued against breaking apart the sprawling department in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press.

President-elect Donald Trump, who promised an aggressive Day 1 effort to stop illegal immigration and remove people in the country illegally, has chosen South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to take over the agency responsible for border and airport security, disaster response, protections for high-level dignitaries and more. She faces a confirmation hearing Wednesday (Jan. 15, 2025).

As he prepares to leave office, Mayorkas said he has spoken repeatedly to Noem, including about the Jan. 1, 2025, truck attack in New Orleans and the wildfires in California, calling the conversations “meaningful, very productive, very positive.”

NOVEMBER 13, 2024:

The South Dakota Education Equity Coalition expresses grave concern over President Trump’s appointment of Governor Kristi Noem as the new Secretary of Homeland Security. This choice not only disregards her failures as a state leader but also sends a dangerous signal about the priorities of our federal government. Governor Noem’s track record as South Dakota’s leader has been marked by negligence toward Indigenous rights and education, alarming inefficiencies in communication with Tribal Leaders, and exclusion of Indigenous perspectives in state education planning. These shortcomings raise serious concerns about her ability to handle the nuanced responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security, especially regarding the Indigenous communities she will impact on a national scale.

Governor Noem’s administration has repeatedly shown a lack of commitment to improving educational outcomes for Native youth in South Dakota. This negligence is evident in the state’s persistent failure to meet its educational goals for Native students. The 2023-2024 South Dakota State Report Card starkly highlights this trend: only 21% of Native students are proficient in English Language Arts, a decline from previous years, and a mere 13% meet proficiency standards in mathematics, far short of the state’s targets. This ongoing academic crisis under Governor Noem’s leadership is not just a failure to meet targets but a direct reflection of systemic neglect of Native student needs. Noem’s approach to education has dismissed Indigenous input, despite evidence that genuine tribal consultation is essential to making meaningful progress.

The Governor’s administration has also left Tribal Education Departments with a non-existent communication structure that impedes effective collaboration and educational improvements. Executive Order 2019-01 removed the South Dakota Office of Indian Education (SDOIE) from the Department of Education (SDDOE) and displaced it to the Office of Tribal Relations, segregating Native education concerns from mainstream state education planning. With this separation, Tribal Education Departments (TEDs) are now directed to work with the SDOIE, whose mandate is restricted to promoting the Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings (OSEUs), rather than addressing the broader, urgent educational issues Native students face. When these broader issues arise, they are either dismissed by the SDDOE or redirected to the SDOIE, creating a continuous cycle of deflection. This intentional fragmentation has fostered mistrust, obstructed any real advancement toward educational equity, and further highlights the lack of accountability in Governor Noem’s governance.

Additionally, it is essential to address Governor Noem’s contentious relationship with South Dakota’s Indigenous nations, which has led to her being banned from all nine sovereign nations within the state. This reflects not only a breakdown of trust but also a profound disconnect from the Indigenous communities she is supposed to serve. Such a relationship is deeply concerning for someone who is now expected to oversee national security, as it speaks to her disregard for the rights and voices of Indigenous people.

“Governor Noem’s appointment to Homeland Security is troubling for Indigenous communities not just in South Dakota, but across the nation,” said Sarah White, Executive Director of the SDEEC. “Her record reflects a history of ignoring Indigenous voices, failing to meet the basic educational needs of Native students, and disregarding meaningful tribal collaboration and consultation. Indigenous communities deserve leaders who respect our sovereign rights and perspectives. We cannot afford to see this lack of accountability and dismissiveness scaled to the federal level, especially in a role as crucial as Homeland Security.”

The SDEEC believes that the well-being of Indigenous youth and communities in South Dakota is at risk under Noem’s leadership. Her appointment to Homeland Security amplifies this threat on a national scale, as it foreshadows a continued lack of accountability, transparency, and respect for Native voices. Our coalition urges a re-evaluation of this appointment and calls upon leaders at all levels to advocate for Native-inclusive, respectful, and effective policy development that does not ignore the rights of Indigenous communities.

NOVEMBER 12, 2024:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Department of Homeland Security. It’s one of the biggest government agencies that will be integral to his vow to secure the border and carry out a massive deportation operation. She rose to prominence in conservative circles for resisting most government regulations to slow the spread of COVID-19 cases. Like Trump, she talks tough on immigration, joining other Republican governors who sent troops to Texas to discourage migrants. She faced harsh criticism for covering most of the deployment cost with a $1 million donation from a Tennessee billionaire. She was vilified this year for a story she told in her book about killing her dog.

Extended version:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Department of Homeland Security, one of the biggest government agencies that will be integral to his vow to secure the border and carry out a massive deportation operation.

Here are five things to know about Noem:

She’s a rancher

The 52-year-old was born in Watertown, South Dakota, and raised on a ranch and farm outside the city. Her father died in a grain-bin collapse at the age of 49.

“When Dad passed away it was devastating for our entire family,” she said during a 2022 interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network. “He was my best friend. He was the person I admired the most, the one that I cared the most what he thought of me and had planned my entire life just to grow up and to work with him and be in business with him.”

She was involved in a number of family businesses before successfully running for the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2006. In 2010, she won the state’s at-large House seat, and in 2018, she was elected the state’s first female governor. She was reelected in 2022.

After becoming governor, Noem started working closely with Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s 2016 campaign manager. Then, during the pandemic, she rose to prominence in conservative circles for resisting most government regulations to slow the spread of infections. She has since become a regular presence in Trump’s political world and at one point was considered to be his running mate.

She enjoys pheasant hunting and hosts the yearly governor’s hunt. And she’s an excellent horseback rider.

The dog story

She was vilified this year for a story she told in her book about killing her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer named Cricket.

Cricket was Noem’s hunting dog but was rambunctious. Noem took the dog with her on a hunting trip with older dogs in hopes of calming her down.

It didn’t work and then on the way home, Noem wrote that when she stopped to talk to a family, Cricket got out of Noem’s truck and attacked and killed some of the family’s chickens. Then the dog “whipped around to bite me,” she wrote.

“At that moment,” Noem wrote, “I realized I had to put her down.” She led Cricket to a gravel pit and killed her.

Critics lambasted her while she defended the killing of Cricket as an example of her willingness to make hard choices.

She talks tough on immigration

Noem has been a key Trump supporter, including backing his tough immigration talk.

“President Trump will deport the most dangerous illegal aliens first — the murderers, rapists, and other criminals that Harris and Biden let into the country. They do not belong here, and we will not let them back in,” Noem said in a post on X after Trump was elected.

Noem joined other Republican governors who sent troops to Texas to assist Texas’ Operation Lone Star, which sought to discourage migrants.

Noem’s decision was met with particularly harsh criticism because she covered most of the deployment cost with a $1 million donation from a Tennessee billionaire who has often donated to Republicans.

Noem described the U.S. border with Mexico as a “war zone” when she sent the troops there, saying they’d be on the front lines of stopping drug smugglers and human traffickers. But records from the Guard painted a more nuanced picture of their mission.

Testy relations with tribes

The Oglala Sioux told her in 2019 that she was not welcome on the Pine Ridge reservation after she led efforts to pass a state law targeting demonstrations such as those in neighboring North Dakota that plagued the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

“I am hereby notifying you that you are not welcome to visit our homelands,” Oglala Sioux President Julian Bear Runner said in a letter to Noem. He told Noem that if she ignored the directive “we will have no choice but to banish you” from the reservation.

The governor also has clashed with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe over Fourth of July fireworks displays at Mount Rushmore. The tribe has opposed the fireworks displays at a monument they view as a desecration of land violently stolen from them decades ago.

Daughter’s real estate appraiser license

In 2020, the South Dakota agency responsible for licensing real estate appraisers denied Noem’s daughter’s application.

Days later, Noem summoned the state employee who ran the agency, the woman’s direct supervisor and the state labor secretary to her office for a meeting with her daughter. Four months later, Noem’s daughter got the certification.

South Dakota lawmakers later unanimously approved a report finding that Noem’s daughter got preferential treatment while applying for the license.

An Associated Press report on Noem’s actions surrounding her daughter’s licensure sparked the investigation. The governor has said her daughter did not get preferential treatment.