Kristi Noem donald trump’s The nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security is scheduled to face senators in his first confirmation hearing Friday.
Noem, a two-term South Dakota governor and former U.S. congressman, is appearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today. Her hearing was originally scheduled for Wednesday..
Related: Trump administration cabinet appointments enter third day of Senate confirmation hearings
So far, she seems to have strong support Republican senators key to her confirmation. During President Trump’s first four years, six people cycled through the post of Homeland Security secretary.
Related: New poll: Americans are skeptical of Trump’s Cabinet nominees
Noem’s role in border security
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
If confirmed, Noem would lead one of the federal government’s largest agencies and play a major role in President Trump’s border security overhaul.
she would be a substitute for going out Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas furious after being heavily criticized by Republicans He was impeached in early 2024 over the number of migrants crossing the country’s southern border.
Why you should care:
Noem will oversee President Trump’s plans. Massive deportation operations and tightened border access.
Related: Mexican state police use drone to discover tunnel in Arizona border wall
The agencies Noem will run include U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. In addition to these agencies, the ministry is also responsible for ensuring air transportation, protecting VIPs, and responding to natural disasters.
Noem defended killing puppies
Back story:
Last year, Noem was widely criticized by both Democrats and Republicans. A man reveals in his memoir that he killed his 14-month-old dog. In an excerpt from “No Going Back,” Noem takes Cricket, a 14-month-old female dog, to a “gravel pit” near her farm where she kills and eats several chickens because she’s “running low.” He wrote that he was shot dead. Rather than “not worth it” or “untrainable”.
Related: Kristi Noem defends puppy killing after widespread outrage from Republicans and Democrats
Let’s dig deeper:
At the time the memoir was published, Noem was on Trump’s short list of running mates in his re-election bid, ultimately being chosen by Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. . Some argue that her admission to animal cruelty hurt her career and chances of being appointed vice president.
Nomu banned from parts of South Dakota
As her hearing continues, it is unclear whether Noem is still barred from the parts of the state she governs.
What we know:
Noem was banned from a large swath of her tribe’s lands in South Dakota early last year after she made public comments about tribal leaders catering to drug cartels on their reservations. This is an allegation widely denied by tribal leaders.
Lawmakers call for stronger border security
Governor Greg Abbott, along with Congressman Crenshaw, pushed for stronger border security in Texas. Nelson Balido, Chairman of the Border Commerce and Security Council, joins LiveNOW from FOX to discuss the latest information.
One of the South Dakota tribes, the Flandreau-Santee Sioux Tribe, lifted an order evicting Noem from its territory on Wednesday, just two days before the Senate committee’s first hearing.
The tribe, one of nine in the state, issued a statement Wednesday resolving that order and expressing support for her nomination to head the Department of Homeland Security.
What we don’t know:
The Flandreau-Santee Sioux Tribe was not the only tribe to formally expel Noem last year, but it is unclear whether other tribes have lifted their bans on Noem. The Associated Press left messages Thursday for eight other tribes in the state.
source: This report includes information from previous LiveNow by The Associated Press, FOX News, and FOX Reports. FOX’s Daniel Miller contributed.
