Kristi Noem Confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON — On Saturday, the Senate officially confirmed Kristi Noem as the new Secretary of Homeland Security, placing the South Dakota governor in charge of a critical agency tasked with national security and a significant role in President Donald Trump’s strategy to combat illegal immigration.
During a session that extended into Saturday, Republican senators secured her confirmation with a vote tally of 59-34, thus adding another member to Trump’s national security team.
Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was confirmed following a dramatic tie-breaking vote on Friday night, joining Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The Senate is expected to vote on Scott Bessent’s nomination for treasury secretary on Monday evening.
Noem, a strong ally of Trump and currently serving her second term as governor, received backing from seven Democratic senators during the voting process. With Republicans holding the majority, they expressed confidence in her ability to effectively lead border security and immigration reforms.
After her confirmation, Noem pledged to focus on “securing our southern border and reforming our flawed immigration system,” while also aiming to “detect and prevent terrorism and deliver swift disaster relief to Americans in need.”
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem will oversee essential agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Her responsibilities will also include securing air travel, protecting dignitaries, and coordinating responses to natural disasters, among other duties.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, remarked on Friday that “addressing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is a top priority for President Trump and Republicans. This will require strong and decisive leadership at the department.”
The Democratic perspective on immigration enforcement under Trump is mixed, with some members gradually warming up to his strict approach.
Nonetheless, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York, along with the majority of his colleagues, opposed Noem’s confirmation. He stressed the importance of “bipartisan solutions to tackle the challenges at our border” and criticized Noem, arguing that she is “heading in the wrong direction.”
Trump is poised to initiate significant transformations within the department, which may include involving the military in immigration enforcement and reorganizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These changes will place Noem under immediate scrutiny, especially following the president’s recent visits to areas in North Carolina and California affected by disasters.
During her Senate confirmation hearing, Democratic senators challenged Noem on whether she would ensure disaster relief for states even if instructed otherwise by the president.
While she did not guarantee defiance against the president, Noem assured lawmakers, “I will implement programs according to the law and without political bias.”
Throughout Trump’s first term, the position of Homeland Security Secretary changed hands six times.
Noem, who represented South Dakota in the U.S. House for eight years before becoming governor in 2019, has risen in prominence within the GOP by closely aligning herself with Trump. At one point, she was even considered a potential running mate.
However, her political image faced challenges last year when she released a book that featured a controversial anecdote about the death of her hunting dog and an inaccurate claim regarding a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
As she begins her new role, Noem is tasked with advancing Trump’s priority of border security. The president’s goals to deport millions of undocumented immigrants may pose difficulties for Noem, particularly given her experience managing a rural state where many migrant workers are vital to key industries like agriculture and housing.
So far, Noem has expressed her determination to carry out the president’s directives and has echoed his rhetoric about an “invasion” at the southern border.
She also joined fellow Republican governors in dispatching National Guard troops to Texas to support Operation Lone Star, a controversial initiative aimed at deterring migrants. This decision attracted criticism, particularly after she accepted a $1 million donation from a Tennessee billionaire to help fund the deployment.
Noem defended her actions, stating, “I chose to send National Guard troops due to this invasion,” adding that “the situation down there resembles a war zone.”