Kristi Noem appointed Homeland Security Secretary on January 25

Kristi Noem was sworn in as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on January 25, 2025. Her appointment follows a 59-34 Senate vote and aligns with President Trump's focus on national security, immigration, and disaster response. Noem, a former governor of South Dakota, has pledged to implement stricter immigration policies and enhance border security. She aims to strengthen intelligence operations and improve emergency response systems as part of her leadership at DHS. Born in South Dakota, Noem has a background in agriculture and politics. She served in the U.S. House before becoming the state's first female governor. She resigned from that position to take on her new role in the federal government.