Trump Names South Dakota’s Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary

Donald Trump Appoints Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary

Donald Trump, the US President-elect, has chosen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to serve as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. This appointment was reported by CNN on Tuesday, citing two sources[1][2][3].

About Kristi Noem

• Background: Kristi Noem is currently serving her second four-year term as the Governor of South Dakota, having won a landslide reelection victory in 2022[2].
• National Prominence: She rose to national prominence by refusing to impose a statewide mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic[1].
• Controversies: Noem faced backlash in April after admitting in her memoir "Not Going Back" that she shot an "untrainable" dog named Cricket on her family farm[2][4].

Responsibilities

• Leadership: Noem will oversee the Department of Homeland Security, which includes a $60 billion budget and federal agencies like US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)[2][5].
• Priorities: The department is responsible for border protection, immigration, disaster response, and the US Secret Service[1].

Other Appointments

• Border Czar: Tom Homan has been appointed as the incoming "border czar," prioritizing the deportation of illegal immigrants posing threats to public safety and national security[1][2].
• Potential Secretary of State: Marco Rubio is reportedly in the running for Secretary of State[2].

This appointment marks a significant move by Trump as he continues to fill key positions in his incoming administration. Noem’s experience and background align closely with Trump’s agenda, particularly in immigration policy.