President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as his next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to two people familiar with the selection. The news was first reported by CNN, citing sources who were not named.
Noem will be tapped to take over the agency as two key immigration hardliners — Stephen Miller and Tom Homan — are slated to serve in senior roles, signaling Trump is serious about his promise to crack down on his immigration pledges. With his selection of Noem, Trump is ensuring a loyalist will head an agency he prioritizes and that is key to his domestic agenda.
The department saw an immense amount of turmoil the last time Trump was in office. Then, DHS had five different leaders, only two of whom were Senate-confirmed. The agency has a $60 billion budget and hundreds of thousands of employees.
Noem had once been on Trump’s shortlist for vice president, though her relationship with Trump shifted after the negative rollout surrounding the publication of her book: “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward.” In it, she revealed that she once killed her 14-month-old wirehair pointer, Cricket, when she was not displaying the signs of an ideal hunting dog.
Noem's Controversy
The governor wrote that the dog was “untrainable,” according to excerpts first reported by The Guardian. Noem later argued that those anecdotes were meant to show how capable she is of doing some of the more gruesome jobs in life when necessary.
Noem has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s calls to strengthen security at the nation’s southern border. While serving as governor, she has ordered three National Guard deployments to support border security in Texas and has signed off on several other federally ordered border deployments. She’s also visited the southern border multiple times.
Noem’s appointment also signals Trump’s high level of trust in her.
“She’s been given a position that deals with a Trump administration priority: the border,” said Jon Schaff, a professor of government at Northern State University in Aberdeen, in northeastern South Dakota. “This is a big, important task. It requires more than photo opportunities and media spots. It takes hard work.”
If Noem’s appointment is subjected to Senate confirmation hearings, she could face difficult questioning about the Kim Jong Un anecdote in her book and its retraction, Schaff said. Trump has called for the Senate to recess after he takes office early next year so he can make appointments without going through the confirmation process.
That will be among the first choices facing the next Senate majority leader, who is scheduled to be elected by Republican senators on Wednesday. South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune is among the candidates.
Noem has faced criticism throughout her career, most recently for her claims about tribal lands.
Controversy Surrounding Tribal Lands
Noem was banned from visiting the lands of all nine of South Dakota’s official Native American tribes in 2024 after claiming some of them had been infiltrated by drugs cartels.
The governor first made the claim to a joint session of the South Dakota Legislature in January 2024, in which she said: “Make no mistake, the cartels have a presence on several of South Dakota’s tribal reservations… They have been successful in recruiting tribal members to join their criminal activity.”
In March, Noem expanded on her allegation, commenting: “We’ve got some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there, and that’s why they attack me every day.”
Speaking to The Associated Press, Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out said: “Our people are being used for her political gain.”
In a statement sent to CNN in May, Noem said: “I only want to speak truth to the real challenges that are being faced in some areas of Indian Country.”
Noem's Career
Noem, 52, is serving her second four-year term as governor. Term limits prevent her from running again in 2026. She previously served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Noem’s career has seen her rise in popularity in South Dakota, and she’s been one of the leading figures in the Republican Party. She’s widely seen as a future presidential candidate, though these latest controversies may have damaged her future ambitions.
Noem has been closely associated with Trump since at least 2020, when she convinced the then-president to authorize and speak at a Mount Rushmore fireworks show during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was widely considered to be a potential running mate for Trump in his recent campaign, until last April. That’s when media reports began to emerge about her new book, “No Going Back,” in which she disclosed that she had once shot a hunting dog in anger over its poor performance, and then shot a goat while still angry about the dog. She also retracted a story in the book about meeting North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un after reports questioning whether the meeting had happened.
Those and other revelations from the book made Noem a figure of ridicule for weeks as she went on a book tour. National television anchors grilled her in interviews, late-night TV hosts mocked her, and she was the butt of jokes and memes on social media. Yet, several months later, she delivered a televised speech at the Republican National Convention. As Trump continued his campaign, speculation grew that Noem could be considered for a job in his administration.
The Department of Homeland Security’s responsibilities include border and immigration enforcement, disaster response, antiterrorism and cybersecurity. Then-President George W. Bush created the department in 2002 in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Future of the Department of Homeland Security
While the department has a long history, the department's future is uncertain. Under the Trump administration, the department has been at the center of a great deal of controversy. Trump’s policies, including the separation of families at the border and the use of tear gas to deter migrants, have been widely condemned by human rights groups.
Noem’s appointment is likely to be met with mixed reactions. Her supporters will see her as a strong, capable leader who will be tough on immigration. Her critics will see her as a divisive figure who is out of touch with the needs of the American people.
Only time will tell what impact Noem will have on the Department of Homeland Security. However, one thing is certain: her appointment will be a major test for Trump’s immigration agenda.
The Department of Homeland Security's Impact
The Department of Homeland Security has a profound impact on the lives of millions of Americans. The agency is responsible for protecting the country from terrorism, enforcing immigration laws, and responding to natural disasters. The department also plays a vital role in protecting our nation’s critical infrastructure, such as our power grid and our financial system. The Department of Homeland Security is a complex and important agency. It faces a number of challenges, including the increasing threat of terrorism, the flow of illegal immigration, and the need to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure. Noem’s appointment to this position is crucial to addressing these issues and maintaining the safety and security of the American people.
