Kristi Noem sworn in as Department of Homeland Security secretary after Senate confirmation
2025-01-26
Category: political

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was sworn in as Department of Homeland Security secretary by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home Saturday, following a scheduling hiccup earlier in the day. The ceremony, which was originally slated to take place in the Indian Treaty Room inside the Navy Department Wing of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., at 3 p.m., was postponed multiple times.&nbsp; Noem shared a video of the moment on X, just after 6:30 p.m.  SENATE CONFIRMS KRISTI NOEM AS TRUMP'S DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY "It is such an honor to be sworn in as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security," she wrote in the post. "It was made even more meaningful by being sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas at his home. Thank you, President [Donald] Trump for putting your trust in me to help keep America safe." Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry shared photos of the event on X, just before 6 p.m., expressing confidence in Noem filling the role. "Sharon and I were honored to be a part of the swearing in ceremony for Homeland Security Secretary, @KristiNoem," Landry wrote in the post. "America will be safer and stronger because of her and @realDonaldTrump [President Donald Trump]’s leadership. And once again Americans will be put FIRST!"  Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Sen Bernie Moreno and Sen Mike Rounds were in attendance in the Indian Treaty Room, awaiting the initial ceremony, Fox News correspondents reported. Taylor Van Kirk, a spokesperson for the vice president, told Fox News the swearing in was delayed "due to a scheduling conflict." "We are excited for the work she will do to bring much-needed change to DHS and to secure the border," Kirk said. KRISTI NOEM BEATS SENATE CONFIRMATION HURDLE, ADVANCING TO FINAL VOTE FOR DHS ROLE Earlier in the day, the Senate voted 59-34 to confirm Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, making her the fourth Trump nominee to win chamber approval. One of Noem's top priorities is securing the southern border and repairing the "broken immigration system," she said. "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," Noem wrote in a statement. "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."  The Trump administration has already taken steps to secure the border, including deploying the military, restarting wall construction and ending the previous administration's parole programs.&nbsp; Before the swearing in, the president shouted out Noem, describing her as "tough," at a rally in Las Vegas. "I thank President Trump and the US Senate for their trust in me," she wrote. "Together, we will ensure that the United States, once again, is a beacon of freedom, safety, and security for generations to come." Prior to her new role, Noem served as South Dakota’s first female governor. She pledged in 2021 that she would not take any more migrants from the Biden administration, and deployed the National Guard to the Texas border. Noem, who was a rancher, farmer and small business owner, served in the South Dakota legislature before being elected as South Dakota's sole member of the U.S. House of Representatives. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News' Julia Johnson, Lillian Lecroy, and Fox News Digital's Adam Shaw contributed to this report.