Latest news on Kristi Noem, former Homeland Security Secretary and Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas.
Kristi Noem is a South Dakota Republican who served as the state's 33rd Governor, its first woman to hold the office, and previously represented South Dakota in the US House of Representatives. She was appointed the eighth US Secretary of Homeland Security in January 2025, overseeing border enforcement, immigration operations, and disaster response through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Noem left the Homeland Security role after just over a year and was appointed Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a security coalition focused on countering drug cartels and irregular migration across the Western Hemisphere. She has also taken on advisory roles in the private sector since departing government service, drawing continued scrutiny over her career moves.
Her tenure at Homeland Security was marked by controversy, including congressional hearings over immigration enforcement operations, the deaths of American citizens during federal actions, and questions raised by lawmakers over departmental spending on public messaging. Supporters point to record levels of removals and reduced border crossings as evidence of the department's effectiveness under her leadership.
Beyond Washington, Noem is known in South Dakota as a rancher and small business owner whose political career began in the state legislature. Her rise to national prominence reflected a broader shift among Republican governors toward hardline immigration and border security platforms.
Before her cabinet role, Noem built a reputation during the Covid-19 pandemic for resisting lockdown measures, a stance that raised her profile within the Republican Party and helped position her for a senior role in a second Trump administration.
Stay across the latest developments involving Kristi Noem, from her work on hemispheric security initiatives to her ongoing political and business ventures, with NewsNow's dedicated feed.