Trump Appoints Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a decision made public on November 12, 2024. This comes as Trump seeks to solidify his administration’s stance on immigration and national security. Noem’s appointment has been confirmed by sources familiar with the decision, and she is expected to take over the DHS at a critical time as the agency navigates complex challenges in the areas of border security, immigration enforcement, and crisis management.
Noem, who has served as the governor of South Dakota, will replace a troubled tenure at the DHS, which during Trump’s previous presidency, saw an unusually high turnover of leadership, with five different individuals occupying the role of Secretary of Homeland Security, only two of whom were confirmed by the Senate. Now, with a budget of approximately $60 billion, DHS oversees key agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Secret Service.
Trump’s selection of Noem is seen as strategic, aligning with his hardline immigration policies. Alongside Noem, former DHS officials Stephen Miller and Tom Homan will be taking senior roles, signaling a renewed focus on enforcing strict immigration controls, a signature issue for Trump.
Despite once being a contender for the vice presidency under Trump, Noem’s relationship with him has evolved over time. A controversial incident from her past revealed in her 2024 memoir “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward” brought negative attention when Noem described an incident in which she euthanized her 14-month old hunting dog for being untrainable. This revelation sparked some public backlash but was defended by Noem as a testament to her practical and tough decision-making abilities.
With Noem at the helm, the Department of Homeland Security is expected to continue the administration’s push to secure the U.S. borders, fight against terrorism, and strengthen internal security while managing other crucial roles like disaster response through FEMA.
Sorce: CNN
