Who: Kristi Noem
Nominated for: Secretary of Homeland Security
You might know her from: Being the two-term governor of South Dakota
More about Noem:
What does this role do: The Secretary of Homeland Security advises the president on crucial security issues within the United States. This position oversees immigration and border-related matters, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, counterterrorism initiatives, aviation security, and cybersecurity, managing more than a quarter-million employees.
Kristi Noem’s Senate confirmation hearing is set to start on Friday at 9 a.m. ET, where she is expected to address her approach to immigration policies, an essential focus of the hearing.
Noem’s nomination places her at the forefront of the new administration’s immigration strategy, which includes potential changes in deportation policies, visa regulations, and enhanced border security measures.
She was among the earliest cabinet picks following the electoral victory and has pledged to work alongside key advisors to strengthen national security. During recent discussions with Republican lawmakers, Noem emphasized her commitment to adhering to established laws and accomplishing the president’s vision for national security.
Notably, she has voiced support for controversial policies, including proposals to end birthright citizenship.
What Noem might be asked about
Should she be confirmed, Noem will supervise over 260,000 federal employees across various agencies, focusing heavily on immigration and border control policies initiated during her congressional career. Her support for an executive order banning travel from several Muslim-majority countries in 2017 is expected to be a focal point of her confirmation discussion.
During her tenure, Noem has positioned herself as a staunch advocate for tough border security measures, including the deployment of National Guard members to the Texas-Mexico border.
Controversy surrounds some of her statements regarding drug trafficking, which claimed that cartels exploit tribal reservations. This assertion led to her being banned from tribal lands.
As a candidate to lead the nation’s disaster response efforts, Noem may also face scrutiny over her management of significant floods in South Dakota, where her response has been criticized as inadequately executed.
