Political tensions and questions swirling around the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) promise to be a key test for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) as she takes over the department that houses the agency.

Saturday to confirm South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security Why it matters: Noem, a Trump loyalist and immigration hardliner, will play a crucial role in implementing President Trump's immigration policies,

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday morning, solidifying a crucial staffing post in President Donald Trump 's Cabinet as he plans to carry out mass deportations.

Va., was one of the seven Senate Democrats who voted on Saturday to confirm the dog-killing, COVID-denying Kristi Noem.

Noem received 59 votes in favor and 34 votes against, easily clearing the simple majority threshold she needed for confirmation.

Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee pressed Kristi Noem, President-elect Trump’s nominee for secretary of Homeland Security, on whether she would apply conditions to or withhold ...

The Senate voted on Saturday to confirm Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, putting a former South Dakota governor in charge of the department at the heart of President Trump’s agenda to crack down on immigration. The vote was 59 to 34, and she was sworn-in on Saturday afternoon by the Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), President-elect Trump’s pick to head the Homeland Security Department, arrives for a Senate confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 (Greg ...

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday, voting to give President Donald Trump another Cabinet official who has pledged to help carry out his aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration. The bipartisan vote was 59-34. No Republicans opposed Noem's nomination.

The two term South Dakota Gov. was tapped by Trump in Nov. and will be key in enacting the new president's mass deportation plan.

Noem will oversee immigration law enforcement, counterterrorism, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and more.

Donald Trump loyalist and immigration hardliner Kristi Noem has been confirmed by the Senate to lead the Department of Homeland Security. The South Dakota governor, who has pledged to secure the US border and support deportation efforts, sailed through her Senate confirmation with a vote of 59-34.