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President Donald Trump is expected to nominate South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to multiple reports.
The DHS oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“The Department of Homeland Security has a vital mission: to secure the nation from the many threats we face. This requires the hard work of more than 260,000 employees in jobs that range from aviation and border security to emergency response, from cybersecurity analyst to chemical facility inspector. Our duties are wide-ranging, and our goal is clear — keeping America safe,” the agency’s website reads.
Noem has served as governor of the state since 2019 when she became the first female governor of South Dakota.
The South Dakota governor has been strong in the fight against the border crisis, according to the Washington Examiner.
“While Noem does not have any direct experience working on the southern border, during her time in Congress, she backed Trump’s controversial Muslim ban, saying that she agreed with Trump’s move to halt the acceptance of refugees from ‘terrorist-controlled regions,’” the outlet reported.
“She also offered to deliver razor wire personally to her Texas counterpart, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), for use along the U.S.-Mexico border,” it continued.
If Noem is appointed as Secretary of Homeland Security, it would promote Republican Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden to the governor’s office for the remainder of her term. This would likely spark a campaign for the 2026 gubernatorial race, with several prominent Republicans, such as U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and state Attorney General Marty Jackley, speculated to be among the contenders.
Trump previously floated the idea of Tom Homan serving in the role. He was announced as Trump’s new border czar instead, as RSBN previously reported.
Homan previously served as the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first term.
“I am pleased to announce that the Former ICE Director, and stalwart on Border Control, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration, in charge of our Nation’s Borders (‘The Border Czar’), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,” Trump posted on Truth Social.