WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland safety secretary on Saturday, placing the South Dakota governor accountable for a sprawling company that’s important to nationwide safety and President Donald Trump’s plans to clamp down on unlawful immigration.
Republicans saved the Senate working Saturday to put in the newest member of Trump’s nationwide safety workforce on a 59-34 vote.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth was additionally confirmed in a dramatic tie-breaking vote Friday evening, becoming a member of Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The Senate will subsequent vote Monday night on Scott Bessent’s affirmation as treasury secretary.
Noem, a Trump ally who was in her second time period as governor, obtained seven votes from Democrats. Republicans, who already held the votes obligatory to verify her, have expressed confidence in her dedication to guide border safety and immigration enforcement.
In an announcement afterward, she pledged “to safe our southern border and repair our damaged immigration system” whereas working to “detect and stop terror threats and can ship fast help and catastrophe aid to Individuals in disaster.”
Noem was sworn in by Supreme Court docket Justice Clarence Thomas at his house later Saturday. She was to have been sworn in by Vice President JD Vance within the afternoon however that was known as off when she was delayed, in line with an individual acquainted with the occasions who was not approved to debate them and spoke on situation of anonymity.
Eric Thayer through Getty Photographs
The homeland safety secretary oversees U.S. Customs and Border Safety, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Providers. Past these businesses, the division can also be accountable for securing airline transportation, defending dignitaries, responding to pure disasters and extra.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., stated Friday that “fixing this disaster and restoring respect for the rule of legislation is one among President Trump and Republicans’ prime priorities. And it’s going to require a decisive and dedicated chief” on the division.
Democrats are break up on learn how to deal with border enforcement and immigration underneath Trump, with some warming to his hard-line stand.
Nonetheless, Senate Democratic chief Chuck Schumer of New York, in addition to most different Democrats, voted in opposition to Noem. He pointed to “bipartisan options to repair the mess at our border,” including that Noem “appears headed within the improper path.”
Trump is planning main adjustments to how the division features, together with involving the navy in immigration enforcement and reshaping the Federal Emergency Administration Company. These plans will instantly put Noem within the highlight after the brand new president visited latest catastrophe websites in North Carolina and California on Friday.
Throughout her Senate listening to, Noem was repeatedly requested by Democratic senators whether or not she would administer catastrophe assist to states even when Trump requested her to not.
Noem prevented saying she would defy the president, however informed lawmakers, “I’ll ship the applications in line with the legislation and that it is going to be completed with no political bias.”
Six folks cycled by means of as homeland safety secretary throughout Trump’s first 4 years in workplace.
Noem, who held her state’s lone U.S. Home seat for eight years earlier than turning into governor in 2019, has risen within the GOP by tacking intently with Trump. At one level, she was even into consideration to be his operating mate.
Her political inventory took a momentary dip, nonetheless, when she launched a e-book final 12 months containing an account of her killing her searching canine, in addition to a false declare that she as soon as met with North Korean chief Kim Jong Un.
Following her affirmation, she was succeeded as South Dakota governor by Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, a rancher and former state Home member who was elected alongside Noem in 2018.
Noem shall be tasked with delivering on Trump’s favourite subject, border safety. The president’s objectives of deporting hundreds of thousands of people that entered the nation illegally may put Noem, along with her expertise governing a rural state and rising up on a farm, in a tough place. In South Dakota, many migrants, some within the nation with out everlasting authorized standing, energy the labor-heavy jobs that produce meals and housing.
She has to date pledged to faithfully execute the president’s orders and copied his speak of an “invasion” on the U.S. border with Mexico.
Go Advert-Free — And Defend The Free Press
Assist JHB
Already contributed? Log in to cover these messages.
Noem joined different Republican governors who despatched Nationwide Guard troops to Texas to help Operation Lone Star, which sought to discourage migrants. Her choice was particularly criticized as a result of she accepted a $1 million donation from a Tennessee billionaire to cowl a number of the deployment price.
She stated she opted to ship Nationwide Guard troops “due to this invasion,” including that “it’s a warfare zone down there.”