President-elect Donald Trump has chosen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security, according to sources familiar with the decision.
Noem’s appointment signals Trump’s strong focus on enforcing his immigration policies, as she will work alongside notable immigration hardliners Stephen Miller and Tom Homan, who will hold senior roles.
By selecting Noem, Trump ensures a loyal ally heads an agency central to his domestic priorities.
During Trump’s previous term, the Department of Homeland Security experienced significant upheaval, with five different leaders, only two of whom were confirmed by the Senate.
DHS, which has a $60 billion budget and hundreds of thousands of employees, manages agencies like Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FEMA, and the Secret Service.
Although Noem doesn’t govern a border state, she has a history of taking strong stances on immigration. As a congressional candidate in 2010, she supported Senate Republicans’ unsuccessful effort to block an Obama-era lawsuit challenging an Arizona immigration law.
She has also criticized Democratic-led “sanctuary cities” that protected undocumented immigrants by not cooperating with federal authorities.
As governor, Noem has had conflicts with tribal leaders, including remarks about tribes’ alleged ties to drug cartels, which led to her being barred from some tribal lands.
In her new role as DHS secretary, she will oversee a department involved in tribal matters.
Noem has long supported Trump’s agenda, modeling herself after his political style since becoming governor in 2019. She opposed COVID-19 restrictions like mask mandates and shutdowns and once spoke about her 2-year-old grandchild owning multiple guns.
In 2020, Noem presented Trump with a Mount Rushmore replica featuring his likeness and was among the earliest governors to endorse him for his 2024 campaign.
While once considered a potential running mate for Trump, she lost favor following the release of her book, “No Going Back,” which revealed she had euthanized a family dog that she found untrainable.
Despite some political setbacks, Noem has remained a loyal Trump ally. In late 2024, she reportedly questioned campaign strategies and moderated a notable town hall event with Trump, showcasing her continued dedication to his cause.
