Today, the United States Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The vote was 59-34 in favor of her appointment.

In a statement following her confirmation, Secretary Noem said, "As the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, I will work every day to keep all Americans safe and secure. One of my top priorities is achieving President Trump’s mandate from the American people to secure our southern border and fix our broken immigration system."

She emphasized that "The Trump Administration will once-again empower our brave men and women in law enforcement to do their jobs and remove criminal aliens and illegal gangs from our country. 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."

Secretary Noem expressed gratitude by stating, "I thank President Trump and the US Senate for their trust in me. Together, we will ensure that the United States, once again, is a beacon of freedom, safety, and security for generations to come."

Before her new role as Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem served as South Dakota's 33rd Governor. She was also South Dakota's first female governor. Her background includes being a rancher, farmer, small business owner, state legislator, and South Dakota's sole member in the U.S. House of Representatives.