South Dakota governor Kristi Noem was confirmed as the United States’ new Secretary of Homeland Security Saturday by vote of 59 to 34 in the Senate.
The confirmation was considerably less dramatic than Friday’s 51-50 vote to confirm former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem, 53, will oversee US Customs and Border Protection, US Secret Service, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement among several other entities.
“Kristi has been very strong on border security,” Trump said when he announced her as his pick in November. “She will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the Border, and will guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries.”
ICE has already begun carrying out deportation raids, including one which netted a Haitian gang member who was taken away screaming “f–k Trump, Biden forever!“
“Fixing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is one of President Trump and Republicans’ top priorities,” Sen John Thune, a fellow South Dakota Republican, and the Senate’s new majority leader, said Friday. “And it’s going to require a decisive and committed leader at the Department of Homeland Security. I believe Kristi has everything it takes to undertake this task.”
During her confirmation hearing, Noem — at one time considered a possible vice-president candidate for Trump — described border security as a “top priority,” emphasized the need “fair and lawful immigration system” and vowed to give Border Patrol agents the resources needed to do their job.
And she promised to restore Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy, and shutter the parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans, which she said gives migrants a free trip to the US, courtesy of Uncle Sam.
“There’s several of these programs that need to be eliminated, and we need to ensure that we’re following legal immigration laws.”
Noem was widely viewed as one of the easier Trump cabinet nominees. The Senate also easily confirmed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State earlier this week.
A procedural vote on Scott Bessent, Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, is also expected Saturday.
A Senate hearing for Tulsi Gabbard to be the next Director of National Intelligence is set for Jan. 30, while hearings for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to serve as Health and Humans Services Secretary is also upcoming.
With Post Wires
