Former South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem was confirmed by the Senate as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a bipartisan vote on Saturday.
The final vote was 59-34, with six Democrats in the upper chamber of Congress joining Republicans to vote in favor of President Donald Trump's nominee.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment.
Why It Matters
Noem's confirmation underscores the administration's focus on immigration enforcement and border security. Critics, however, have pointed to her lack of direct experience in law enforcement or homeland security as a potential challenge in leading the sprawling agency.
DHS is one of the most critical federal agencies, tasked with overseeing border security, disaster response, immigration services, and counterterrorism efforts. Noem's confirmation comes amid heightened political polarization over immigration policies.
Full List of Democrats Who Backed Kristi Noem
Democratic Senators who backed Noem:
- Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania
- Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia
- Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey
- Senator Gary Peters of Michigan
- Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
- Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan
What to Know
Noem, a two-term governor and former U.S. House Representative, gained national attention for her close alignment with Trump's policies. While her tenure as governor of South Dakota focused on rural and agricultural priorities, her support for deploying National Guard troops to the southern border—funded by a private donor—cemented her reputation as a Trump loyalist.
During her confirmation hearing earlier this month, Noem stated her commitment to executing immigration and border security initiatives. She highlighted plans to reinstate the controversial "Remain in Mexico" policy, which would require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their U.S. court hearings.
"President Trump was elected with a clear mandate," Noem said during the hearing. "He needs to achieve this mission because two-thirds of Americans support his immigration and border policies, including the majority of Hispanic Americans."
While some Democrats ultimately voted in support of Noem, many raised concerns about her qualifications during the confirmation hearings and ahead of the vote.
What People Are Saying
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem released a statement on Saturday after the vote: "As the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, I will work every day to keep all Americans safe and secure. One of my top priorities is achieving President Trump's mandate from the American people to secure our southern border and fix our broken immigration system."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, praised Noem's qualifications: "Kristi has everything it takes to undertake this task....Fixing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is one of President Trump and Republicans' top priorities."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said before the vote that Noem is "heading in the wrong direction. And I will vote no," according to Fox News.
Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey said in a statement after he voted in support: "As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I had several direct conversations with Governor Noem. While we disagreed strongly on a number of key points of Trump's agenda, we both agreed that we could more effectively raise and try to address the pressing needs and concerns of communities and families in New Jersey if we communicate and engage directly with one another. Our country has a broken immigration system; I have been clear that further instilling fear in immigration communities is not the path to fixing it."
Senator Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, said in a statement emailed to Newsweek after the vote: "Both in our private meeting, during questioning before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and in follow-up questions sent to her, Governor Noem refused to answer questions or provide the details needed for me to support her nomination."
The White House said in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter: "Kristi Noem's confirmation as Secretary of Homeland Security underscores President Trump's commitment to strengthening our nation's security. America is BACK."
What Happens Next
With Noem at the helm, DHS faces pressing challenges, including implementing Trump's immigration agenda and preparing for potential natural disasters in 2025. The administration's plan to involve the military in immigration enforcement and to reshape the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will likely keep Noem in the spotlight.
Her tenure will likely test her ability to balance Trump's directives with the operational demands of DHS, which includes agencies like FEMA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As Noem takes office, the department's policies and execution will be closely scrutinized by both supporters and critics alike.
Noem resigned as South Dakota governor after the confirmation vote, with her Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden officially becoming the Midwestern state's 34th head of government on Saturday.
Update, 01/25/25 at 12:42 p.m. ET: Additional information and context was added.
Update, 01/25/25 at 1 p.m. ET: Additional information about Noem's replacement was added.
Update, 01/25/25 at 3:19 p.m. ET: A statement from Noem was added.
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About the writer
Jason Lemon is a Senior Politics Editor at Newsweek based in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to taking on the editor role, Jason's reporting focused ... Read more