US Senate Confirms Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary
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Loading... - Olivia Lehtinen
- 27 Jan 2025
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The U.S. Senate has confirmed Kristi Noem as the new Secretary of Homeland Security, a pivotal role in President Donald Trump’s administration focused on immigration enforcement and national security. The Senate voted 59-34 in favor of Noem, who previously served as the first female governor of South Dakota and has a background as a four-term congresswoman.
Noem's confirmation marks her as the fourth individual in the Trump administration to receive Senate approval for a cabinet position, following Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, and John Ratcliffe as Director of the CIA.
In her confirmation hearing, Noem emphasized the importance of securing U.S. borders against illegal trafficking and immigration. She stated, “We must safeguard our critical infrastructure to make sure that we’re protected against cyberattacks, respond to natural disasters, and also terrorism.” She also highlighted her commitment to removing “criminal aliens” from American communities to enhance public safety.
Noem expressed her intention to address “homegrown terrorism” and assured senators that her management of disaster relief would be free from political bias. Her appointment comes at a time when the Trump administration is implementing a series of aggressive immigration policies, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border and initiating efforts to end birthright citizenship.
A longtime ally of Trump, Noem has been recognized for her controversial stance during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she rejected mask mandates and social distancing measures. She also received praise from Trump for deploying National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.
As she steps into her new role, it remains to be seen how Noem will collaborate with Tom Homan, who has been designated as the "border czar." Homan has been vocal about strengthening Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to facilitate raids against undocumented immigrants nationwide, aligning with the administration's crackdown on irregular immigration.
Noem's leadership at the Department of Homeland Security will be closely watched as she navigates the complexities of immigration policy, national security, and disaster management in the coming months.
