Kristi Noem Sworn in as Homeland Security Secretary, Vows to Secure Border and Bolster National Security

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was officially sworn in as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security on Saturday in an intimate ceremony at the home of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The unexpected change in location followed a series of scheduling hiccups that delayed the ceremony originally set for the Indian Treaty Room inside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

“It is such an honor to be sworn in as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security,” Noem said in a statement following the ceremony. “It was made even more meaningful by being sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home. Thank you, President Trump, for putting your trust in me to help keep America safe.”

Noem’s confirmation in the Senate, with a 59-34 vote, makes her the fourth member of President Trump’s cabinet to secure approval. Her appointment further cements Trump’s administration’s focus on national security and border enforcement, with Noem joining a growing list of what is being dubbed as the “Warriors of Truth & Justice.”

A staunch advocate for stricter immigration policies, Noem wasted no time outlining her priorities as the new head of the Department of Homeland Security. “The Trump administration will once again empower our brave men and women in law enforcement to do their jobs and remove criminal aliens and illegal gangs from our country,” she stated. “We will fully equip our intelligence and law enforcement to detect and prevent terror threats and will deliver rapid assistance and disaster relief to Americans in crisis.”

Noem’s appointment comes as the administration moves swiftly to ramp up border security, with measures including the redeployment of military personnel, the resumption of border wall construction, and the termination of parole programs implemented under the previous administration.

President Trump, speaking at a rally in Las Vegas earlier in the day, praised Noem as “tough” and the right person for the job. “Together, we will ensure that the United States, once again, is a beacon of freedom, safety, and security for generations to come,” Noem affirmed.

Before taking on her new role, Noem served as South Dakota’s first female governor and was known for her hardline stance on immigration. In 2021, she pledged to block migrant resettlements from the Biden administration and deployed National Guard troops to the Texas border in support of law enforcement operations.

A former rancher, farmer, and small business owner, Noem’s political career began in the South Dakota legislature before she was elected as the state’s lone representative in the U.S. House. Now, as the leader of one of the nation’s most critical security agencies, Noem faces the formidable challenge of implementing the administration’s sweeping immigration and homeland security policies, which she is more than equipped to do.

Richard Wells
UCW Newswire