Kristi Noem Confirmed As Secretary Of Homeland Security

The Senate confirmed Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Saturday.

“The yeas are 59, the nays are 34. The nomination is confirmed,” Republican Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, who presided over the confirmation, said on the floor of the Senate after the livestreamed roll call vote.

Noem, 53, becomes the eighth DHS Secretary. Her confirmation hearing was held Jan. 17. She will take over from Acting Secretary Benjamine Huffman, who was serving as a placeholder pending Noem’s confirmation.

She is expected to execute President Donald Trump’s executive orders regarding border security and immigration while overseeing the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies. (RELATED: Trump DHS Chucks Two Biden-Era Immigration Policies Into Dustbin)

Noem resigned Saturday as South Dakota’s governor, with Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden to replace her. “As you assume the role of Governor, please remember our state motto: ‘Under God, the People Rule.’ I chose you because I knew that you would approach the role the same way that I did,” she wrote to Rhoden in her resignation letter.

The voting margin for Noem’s confirmation was not similar to that for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, whose confirmation went down to the wire Friday and required Vice President J.D. Vance to break the tie with his vote and ensure Hegseth’s confirmation.

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 17: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, speaks with Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) before her confirmation hearing before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill on January 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. Noem is expected to face questions about the incoming Trump administration’s plans to crack down on illegal immigration. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

Border security reinforcement and the deportation of illegal immigrants are already underway, as the Department of Defense announced the deployment of 1,500 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and military planes for the deportation of 5,000 illegal immigrants detained by the CBP. Two military airplanes flew 160 illegal immigrants to Guatemala Friday, Reuters reported.

Trump picked Noem to be DHS Secretary in November 2024. “Kristi has been very strong on Border Security,” Trump said. “I have known Kristi for years, and have worked with her on a wide variety of projects – She will be a great part of our mission to Make America Safe Again.”