Senate Confirms Noem as Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary

Senate Confirms Noem as Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary

WASHINGTON — On Saturday, the Senate officially confirmed Kristi Noem as the new Secretary of Homeland Security, placing the South Dakota governor at the helm of a vital agency responsible for national security and a key player in President Donald Trump’s strategy to address illegal immigration.

In a session that stretched into Saturday, Republican senators secured her confirmation with a vote of 59-34, adding another member to Trump’s national security team.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was confirmed after a dramatic tie-breaking vote on Friday night, joining Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The Senate is set to vote on Scott Bessent’s nomination for treasury secretary on Monday evening.

Noem, a staunch ally of Trump and currently in her second term as governor, garnered support from seven Democrats during the voting process. With Republicans already holding a majority, they expressed confidence in her commitment to leading border security and immigration initiatives effectively.

Following her confirmation, Noem committed herself to “securing our southern border and reforming our flawed immigration system,” while also focusing on “detecting and preventing terrorism and providing swift disaster relief to Americans in need.”

As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem will oversee crucial agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additionally, her responsibilities will encompass securing air travel, protecting dignitaries, and managing responses to natural disasters, among other duties.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, stated 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 necessitate a strong and resolute leader at the department.”

The Democratic stance on immigration enforcement under Trump is divided, with some members gradually embracing his stringent approach.

Nevertheless, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer from New York, along with most of his party members, opposed Noem’s confirmation. He emphasized the need for “bipartisan solutions to address the issues at our border,” and criticized Noem, suggesting she is “heading in the wrong direction.”

Trump is poised to implement significant changes within the department, including the potential involvement of the military in immigration enforcement and reorganizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These changes will place Noem under immediate scrutiny, particularly following the president’s recent visits to disaster-affected areas in North Carolina and California.

During her Senate confirmation hearing, Democratic senators pressed Noem on whether she would provide disaster relief to states even if the president directed her otherwise.

While she refrained from committing to defy the president, Noem assured lawmakers, “I will implement programs according to the law and without political bias.”

Throughout Trump’s first term, the role of Homeland Security Secretary changed hands six times.

Noem, who served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives before becoming governor in 2019, has gained prominence in the GOP by aligning closely with Trump. At one point, she was even considered as a potential running mate.

However, her political image faced scrutiny last year when she published a book that included a controversial story about the death of her hunting dog and an inaccurate claim about meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

As she embarks on her role, Noem is charged with advancing Trump’s priority of border security. The president’s ambitions to deport millions of undocumented immigrants may create challenges for Noem, given her background in managing a rural state where many migrant workers support essential industries like agriculture and housing.

So far, Noem has expressed her commitment to executing the president’s directives and has echoed his rhetoric about an “invasion” at the southern border.

She also joined other Republican governors in deploying National Guard troops to Texas to assist with Operation Lone Star, a controversial initiative aimed at deterring migrants. Her decision drew 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.”