Kristi Noem sworn in as Homeland Security Secretary
WASHINGTON - The 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 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.
Noem was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home later Saturday. She was to have been sworn in by Vice President JD Vance in the afternoon but that was called off when 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 Senate will next vote Monday evening on Scott Bessent's confirmation as treasury secretary.
Who is Kristi Noem?
The backstory:
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.''
RELATED: Kristi Noem faces Senate confirmation hearing
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.
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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is sworn in during her confirmation hearing before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill on
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.
What they're saying:
On social media, Noem thanked Trump for "the confidence in me to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security."
She added, "I will work to make America SAFE again!"
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Friday, "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 of Homeland Security."
"Fixing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is one of President Trump and Republicans’ top priorities," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said 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."
The other side:
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."
What does the DHS Secretary do?
Why you should care:
The 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.
Trump is planning major changes to the way the department functions, including involving the military in immigration enforcement and reshaping the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Those plans could immediately put Noem in the spotlight after the new president visited recent disaster sites in North Carolina and California on Friday.
Noem would 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.
RELATED: Kristi Noem defends killing puppy after widespread outrage from Republicans and Dems
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.
Noem said she opted to send National Guard troops "because of this invasion," adding that "it is a war zone down there."
Noem faced tough questions from lawmakers
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 that she would defy the president, but she 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.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story appears to be sourced from various reports and statements made by public officials, including those from the Senate, political leaders, and Kristi Noem herself. This story was reported from Los Angeles.