Kristi Noem officially appointed as secretary of homeland security

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has been confirmed as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, following a 59-34 vote by senators. Noem is the third of President Donald Trump’s nominees to now be confirmed, alongside former Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and former Fox News Host as Secretary of Defense. Noem, a longtime ally of Trump, previously served four terms in the House of Representatives before becoming governor. In her new role, she is expected to focus heavily on immigration enforcement, particularly at the southern border. Noem will be working alongside the president’s border czar, Tom Homan, to implement Trump’s campaign promise to deport unauthorized immigrants en masse. Noem previously faced controversy for an anecdote in her memoir about shooting her hunting dog, as well as for false claims regarding a meeting with North Korea’s dictator. Despite these controversies, Noem’s confirmation comes at a time when the Department of Homeland Security is under pressure to address border security issues and enforce immigration laws. She is expected to lead the department’s efforts to secure the nation’s borders and protect against potential threats.