Trump Appoints Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has appointed South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), marking a significant addition to his second-term cabinet, according to sources close to the decision.

The appointment underscores Trump’s ongoing commitment to a strict immigration agenda. Known for her conservative stance, Noem will be joining other prominent immigration hardliners, including Stephen Miller and former ICE Director Tom Homan, who are also expected to take influential roles in Trump’s administration.

Noem’s new role signals Trump’s focus on domestic security and immigration control as major priorities in his upcoming term. The DHS has been a focal point of his policies in the past, though it saw considerable turnover in leadership during his first term, with five different leaders—only two of whom received Senate confirmation.

As head of the DHS, Noem will oversee several critical agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Secret Service. With an annual budget of $60 billion and a workforce of hundreds of thousands, DHS is one of the most complex federal agencies, and Noem’s leadership will be crucial in steering its direction.

A former U.S. representative, Noem previously appeared on Trump’s shortlist for a vice-presidential position. However, tensions arose after the release of her memoir, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward. In it, she described a controversial decision to put down her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, due to unsatisfactory hunting behavior, an anecdote intended to illustrate her resolve in challenging situations.