In a major appointment, President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to sources familiar with the decision. With Noem in charge, Trump aims to ensure that DHS aligns with his key domestic policies, especially his hardline stance on immigration, as Stephen Miller and Tom Homan, well-known immigration hardliners, will also assume senior positions in the administration.
The DHS, with a $60 billion budget and hundreds of thousands of employees, plays a critical role in managing border security, immigration enforcement, and emergency management through agencies like US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Noem, formerly a South Dakota representative, is tasked with overseeing these extensive responsibilities.
Noem’s relationship with Trump has been complex. While once considered for the vice-presidential slot, her reputation saw controversy with the publication of her book, No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward. A particular revelation about euthanizing her dog, Cricket, drew criticism from some but was, according to Noem, intended to illustrate her capability in handling difficult decisions.
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