Kristi Noem tells Senate that border security is a ‘sacred trust’ – Washington Examiner

Anna Giaritelli and Cami MondeauxJanuary 17, 2025

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Kristi Noem says border security a ‘sacred trust’ in Senate confirmation hearing

President-elect Donald Trump‘s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD), vowed to prioritize border security nationwide should she be confirmed by the Senate to carry out the Republican administration’s vision.

“Securing our homeland is a serious, sacred trust that must be relentlessly pursued and can never be taken for granted,” Noem said in her opening statement before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Friday morning.

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“Being safe within our borders here in America is critical, and yet, Americans feel less safe than they have felt in decades,” Noem said. “For the first time in 30 years, more than 40% of Americans are afraid to walk alone at night within a mile. President-elect Trump is going to change that.”

Noem was introduced by Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), who described her as a champion back home. Thune’s endorsement was a not-so-subtle nod to senators to confirm Noem.

“Securing the homeland is the … No. 1 constitutional priority as a Congress, and it is, for sure, the No. 1 priority of the voters in the last election, and it is the No. 1 priority for President Donald Trump,” said Cramer. “Naturally, he would say, ‘Who is the toughest, smartest, most capable protector that I know? I think I’d like to find a ranch woman, mom, grandmother, who knows how to protect her own.’”

Thune added that he believed Noem, the governor of South Dakota since 2019 and a former House lawmaker, “possesses” the skill set necessary to oversee the 260,000 employees at the DHS.

“It’s going to require a tremendous amount of persistence and determination, which I think she has, an enormous amount of energy, which she has in abundance, and frankly, what I would say is just absolute toughness can take some, some tough and hard leadership to get things back in order,” said Thune.

The hearing launched shortly after 9 a.m. ET, when Noem entered, greeted members of the committee and shook their hands.

Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) instructed those in the audience not to disrupt the meeting and warned that members of the U.S. Capitol Police “have been asked to escort anyone immediately” if attendees interrupted proceedings. Earlier this week, protesters disrupted the confirmation hearing for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Trump’s choice for secretary of state.