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Kristi Noem confirmed by US Senate to head Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed by US Senate to head Department of Homeland Security
(about 2 hours later)
South Dakota governor will take on Trump’s anti-immigration mission, air travel and natural disastersSouth Dakota governor will take on Trump’s anti-immigration mission, air travel and natural disasters
The US Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary on Saturday, putting the South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and Donald Trump’s plans to clamp down on illegal immigration during his second presidency. Kristi Noem secured US Senate confirmation as homeland security secretary on Saturday, putting the South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and Donald Trump’s plans to clamp down on illegal immigration during his second presidency.
Republicans kept the Senate working on Saturday to install the latest member of Trump’s national security team. Defense secretary Pete Hegseth was confirmed in a dramatic tie-breaking vote Friday night, joining the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the CIA director, John Ratcliffe. The Senate will next vote on Monday evening on Scott Bessent’s confirmation as treasury secretary. The Senate worked on Saturday as Republicans successfully sought to install the latest member of Trump’s national security team. Defense secretary Pete Hegseth was confirmed in a dramatic tie-breaking vote by JD Vance Friday night, joining the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the CIA director, John Ratcliffe.
Noem, a Trump ally who is in her second term as governor, received some support from Democrats on the Senate homeland security and governmental affairs committee when it voted 13-2 to advance her nomination earlier in the week. Republicans, who already hold the votes necessary to confirm her, have also expressed confidence in her determination to lead border security and immigration enforcement. The Senate is scheduled to next vote Monday evening on Scott Bessent’s confirmation as treasury secretary.
Republicans unanimously voted to confirm Noem and got support from seven Democrats, including John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Margaret Hassan of New Hampshire and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan. The final vote was 59-34.
Democrats – or those caucusing with their party – who did not vote were Angus King of Maine, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Ron Wyden of Oregon, according to the New York Times.
Noem’s supporters praised her outlook on immigration and voiced confidence in her ability to run the department.
“Fixing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is one of President Trump and Republicans’ top priorities,” the GOP Senate majority leader, John Thune of South Dakota, said on Friday. “And it’s going to require a decisive and committed leader at the Department of Homeland Security. I believe Kristi has everything it takes to undertake this task.”“Fixing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is one of President Trump and Republicans’ top priorities,” the GOP Senate majority leader, John Thune of South Dakota, said on Friday. “And it’s going to require a decisive and committed leader at the Department of Homeland Security. I believe Kristi has everything it takes to undertake this task.”
Democrats are split on how to handle border enforcement and immigration under Trump, with some warming to his hardline stand. Noem thanked Trump for appointing her to the role on Saturday.
Still, the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, said earlier he would vote against Noem. He pointed to “bipartisan solutions to fix the mess at our border”, adding that Noem “seems headed in the wrong direction”. “I will work to make America SAFE again,” she wrote on social media.
The homeland security secretary oversees US 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.The homeland security secretary oversees US 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.
Trump is planning major changes to how the department functions, including involving the military in immigration enforcement and reshaping the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). Those plans could 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 she told lawmakers: “I will deliver the programs according to the law and that … 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 US House seat for eight years before becoming governor in 2019, has risen in the Republican party by tacking closely with Trump. At one point, she was even under consideration to be his running mate.Noem, who held her state’s lone US House seat for eight years before becoming governor in 2019, has risen in the Republican party 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.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.
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. Noem does not have any experience in law enforcement but has pledged to faithfully execute the president’s orders and copied his talk of an “invasion” at the US border with Mexico.
She has so far pledged to faithfully execute the president’s orders and copied his talk of an “invasion” at the US border with Mexico. “Biden’s open border policies are facilitating illegal border crossings. This invasion must end,” Noem posted on X last year.
Trump is planning major changes to how the department functions, including involving the military in immigration enforcement and reshaping the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). Those plans could immediately put Noem in the spotlight after the new president visited recent disaster sites in North Carolina and California on Friday.
Trump campaigned on mass deportation of immigrants, and as homeland security, Noem will be part of the team who will carry out Trump’s border policy. Trump also appointed Tom Homan, a longtime official within the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agency, which manages border security and deportations, as his “border tsar”. Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff of policy, is largely seen as the creator of the child-separation policy seen during Trump’s first term.
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 $1m donation from a Tennessee billionaire to cover some of the deployment cost.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 $1m donation from a Tennessee billionaire to cover some of the deployment cost.
Noem said she opted to send national guard troops “because of this invasion”, adding that “it is a war zone down there”.Noem said she opted to send national guard troops “because of this invasion”, adding that “it is a war zone down there”.
Six people cycled through as homeland security secretary during Trump’s first four years in office. His first homeland security secretary, John Kelly, eventually became his chief of staff, a position he held in 2019. Kelly is now a prominent critic of Trump, whom he has called a fascist.
Trump has the help of Republicans in Congress, who have majorities in both chambers, to carry out his hardline immigration policies.
Earlier this week, Republicans passed their first immigration bill of the year, requiring the detention of undocumented immigrants charged with theft. While the majority of Democrats argued against the bill, saying that it would lead to racial profiling and fear-mongering among immigrants, a few dozen Democratic representatives voted with Republicans on the bill.
Maggie Goodlander, a Democratic freshman from New Hampshire, said the bill gives “law enforcement the tools they need to keep our communities safe”.
During her confirmation hearing, Noem faced questions about whether she would stand up to Trump if he were to try to withhold relief money from certain states experiencing natural disasters.
Noem did not answer the question directly but said: “I will deliver the programs according to the law and that it will be done with no political bias.”
The Associated Press contributed reporting