Who: Kristi Noem
Nominated for: Secretary of Homeland Security
You might know her from: Being the two-term governor of South Dakota
More about Noem:
- In 2021 and then again in 2024, Noem deployed members of the South Dakota National Guard to the Texas-Mexico border to assist with construction of the border wall.
- Noem was a member of the House of Representatives prior to becoming her state’s first female governor.
- She entered the national political stage for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including her stances against mask and lockdown mandates.
What does this role do: Advises the president on security issues within the United States. In charge of immigration and border-related issues; the Coast Guard; the Federal Emergency Management Agency; counterterrorism; aviation security; and cybersecurity. Oversees more than a quarter-million employees.
What happened at the hearing:
Noem would lead the department poised to be at the center of Trump’s immigration policy priorities, including any deportation efforts, visa changes, and border security.
“The reason that I asked for it is because I knew it was the president’s number one priority,” Noem told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, about why she is best for the role.
“I knew that it would be needed to have someone in the position, that would do what the president promised the American people and would be strong enough to do it.”
Lawmakers focused on working with Noem on the department’s priorities, rather than questioning her qualifications, suggesting she faces a smooth path to confirmation.
In addition to overseeing the immigration agencies, DHS also handles intelligence, surveillance and training to prevent and track terrorist threats.
“Now, President Trump obviously won the last election with a clear mandate, and that mandate is for the American people to secure that border. But also we need to focus on domestic terrorism and homegrown terrorism,” she later said, in a response to a question from Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., regarding the threat of terrorism.