Thu Nov 14 12:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Trump Picks South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to Lead Department of Homeland Security
**WASHINGTON** – President-elect Donald Trump has chosen South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a critical agency responsible for border security, emergency relief, and cybersecurity. Trump announced the selection on Tuesday, emphasizing Noem’s strong stance on border security, citing her deployment of National Guard troops to the southern border in Texas.
“I have known Kristi for years and have worked with her on a wide variety of projects,” Trump said in a statement. “She will be a great part of our mission to make America safe again.”
Noem, a former member of Congress, has been governor of South Dakota since 2018. She has gained recognition for her stance on border security, particularly her pledge in 2021 to not accept migrants from the Biden administration.
“With Donald Trump, we will secure the border and restore safety to American communities so that families will again have the opportunity to pursue the American dream,” Noem stated.
Noem’s selection has been met with praise from several prominent figures, including former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, who described her as a “fantastic pick,” highlighting her experience with FEMA and her commitment to border security. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a vocal supporter of Trump’s border security policies, called Noem a “border hawk” who shares his commitment to securing the Texas border.
The appointment has been seen as a strategic move by Trump, who is focusing on a “hawkish” approach to immigration and national security. The appointment follows the announcement of Tom Homan, former ICE director, as Trump’s “border czar,” and Stephen Miller, a key figure in Trump’s first term immigration policies, as assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser.
Noem’s experience in dealing with national emergencies through her handling of floods in South Dakota, her ban on TikTok on state-owned devices due to cybersecurity concerns, and her support for the expansion of cybersecurity programs in the state, are seen as assets in leading DHS.
The appointment of Noem signals a significant shift in the direction of the DHS under a Trump administration, signaling a renewed focus on border security, immigration enforcement, and national security.
First Piper 