The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary on Saturday. The South Dakota governor will now lead this crucial agency, vital to national security and President Trump’s immigration policies.

Republicans convened a Saturday session to confirm Noem by a 59-34 vote, adding her to Trump’s national security team.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation followed on Friday, decided by a tie-breaking vote. He joins Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. A vote on Scott Bessent’s nomination as Treasury Secretary is scheduled for Monday.

Noem, a Trump ally in her second gubernatorial term, secured seven Democratic votes. Republicans, who already possessed the necessary votes, expressed confidence in her commitment to border security and immigration enforcement.

In a subsequent statement, she vowed to bolster southern border security, reform the immigration system, counter terrorism, and provide swift disaster relief.

The Homeland Security Secretary oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. The department’s responsibilities also encompass airline security, dignitary protection, and disaster response.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) stated that addressing border issues and upholding the rule of law are top priorities for President Trump and Republicans, necessitating a resolute leader at the department.

Democrats remain divided on border enforcement and immigration under Trump, with some showing support for his stricter stance.

However, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), along with most Democrats, opposed Noem’s confirmation. He advocated for bipartisan solutions, suggesting Noem’s approach is misguided.

Trump intends to significantly restructure the department, including increased military involvement in immigration enforcement and FEMA reform. These plans will place Noem in the immediate spotlight following the president’s recent visits to disaster-stricken areas in North Carolina and California.

During her Senate hearing, Noem faced repeated questioning from Democratic senators about whether she would provide disaster aid to states, even if directed otherwise by Trump.

Noem avoided directly stating defiance but assured lawmakers she would administer programs according to the law, free from political bias.

Six individuals served as Homeland Security Secretary during Trump’s first term.

Noem, who served eight years in the U.S. House before becoming governor in 2019, has aligned closely with Trump, even being considered as a potential running mate.

Her political standing briefly faltered following the release of a book last year, which included an account of killing her hunting dog and a false claim of meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Noem will be responsible for executing Trump’s key policy: border security. The president’s aim to deport millions of undocumented immigrants could present challenges for Noem, given her rural state background. In South Dakota, many migrants, some undocumented, work in labor-intensive sectors like food production and housing.

She has committed to implementing the president’s orders and echoed his rhetoric about an “invasion” at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Noem joined other Republican governors in deploying National Guard troops to Texas to assist Operation Lone Star, a move criticized given her acceptance of a $1 million donation to partially fund the deployment.

She justified the deployment citing the “invasion” and characterizing the border as a “war zone.”