The U.S. Senate has confirmed Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on a 59-34 vote.
Senators worked over the weekend to confirm Noem as the eighth homeland security secretary, DHS said Saturday. Fifty-two Republican senators, who hold the chamber’s majority, supported Noem’s nomination while seven Democrats voted in her favor.
Safety Goals
In a statement issued following the confirmation vote, the new DHS head thanked the Senate for its trust, vowing she would secure the southern border, fix the broken immigration system and keep all Americans safe. “We will fully equip our intelligence and law enforcement to detect and prevent terror threats and will deliver rapid assistance and disaster relief to Americans in crisis,” the Wash100 Award recipient said.
First Female Governor of South Dakota
Before her nomination to President Donald Trump’s cabinet, Noem was a two-term governor of South Dakota—the first woman to hold the job in the state’s history. She also served in the state legislature for several years and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Noem, who will oversee key agencies such as Customs and Border Protection and take charge of federal response to natural disasters, was sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas.
