OAN staff Abril Elfi
11:38am – Saturday, January 25, 2025
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been confirmed by the Senate as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
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On Saturday, Noem (Rs.D.) was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 59-34.
NOEM takes over the department at a time when the new administration's main priorities are border security and combating illegal immigration. Deploying troops, reopening wall buildings, and ending the parole program from the Biden administration are just some of the steps the administration has taken to secure the border.
In the meantime, in line with Trump's pledge for a “historic” operation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun conducting deportation operations across the country.
Since Trump's inauguration, the Department of Homeland Security has released a number of memos overseeing the powers of newly arrived officers expedited from the United States, signed by Rep. Benjamin Huffman.
Noem mentioned cybersecurity, disaster relief, and counterterrorism as other aspects of her homeland security role during her confirmation hearing.
“We must be vigilant, proactive and innovative to protect our homelands,” she said. “The challenges at hand are critical and we must secure our borders against illegal human trafficking and migration. We must protect our critical infrastructure.”
However, NOEM emphasizes that border security is a “top priority.”
Noem is currently President Donald Trump's fourth choice, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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