Kristi Noem

Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem ( NOHM; née Arnold; born November 30, 1971) is an American politician who served as the eighth United States secretary of homeland security from 2025 to 2026. A member of the Republican Party, she served from 2019 to 2025 as the 33rd governor of South Dakota and represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U . House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. During her tenure at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), her immigration policies generated controversies, particularly the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Born in Watertown, South Dakota, Noem began her political career in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011. She was elected as the first female governor of South Dakota in 2018 with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. She gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for opposing statewide mask mandates in favor of voluntary measures. Noem has conservative positions on most domestic issues, particularly gun rights, abortion, and immigration. Noem is a rancher and a member of the Civil Air Patrol. She has published two autobiographies, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland (2022) and No Going Back (2024), the latter of which sparked controversy for its account of her killing a young family dog and false claims about meeting with foreign leaders. Donald Trump nominated her as his secretary of homeland security, the Senate confirmed her, and she was sworn in on January 25, 2025. In January 2026, Noem defended the killing of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents, before any investigation, which led some lawmakers to call for her resignation or impeachment. In March 2026, Noem appeared before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary after reports emerged of her alleged relationship with her subordinate, Corey Lewandowski, and of her misuse of government funds on television advertisements and private luxury jets. Her testimony before the committee intensified criticism from Congress. After the congressional hearing, Trump announced his decision to remove Noem from DHS.