South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is on the verge of becoming the new head of the Department of Homeland Security, as her nomination has been advanced by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The final step in the process is a Senate vote for her confirmation, which has been moved up to Saturday.
Noem’s nomination follows the recent confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Unlike Hegseth’s close confirmation vote, Noem is expected to receive bipartisan support in the Senate, making her confirmation a smoother process.
According to FOX News, Noem’s nomination has already cleared a key hurdle in the confirmation process, with a final vote expected on Sunday morning. If confirmed, she will join President Donald Trump’s cabinet alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The South Dakota governor has garnered bipartisan support, as evidenced by her nomination advancing out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by a vote of 13-2, with only two Democrats voting against her.
Senator Mullin of Oklahoma expressed confidence in Noem’s confirmation, stating on Twitter that the 30-hour debate clock will likely lead to her confirmation early on Sunday morning. The urgency to confirm the cabinet members quickly is evident in his tweet.
It is widely expected that Noem will be confirmed as the new DHS chief, replacing Alejandro Mayorkas. Mayorkas, who has been widely criticized as the worst DHS chief in history, will make way for Noem to take the helm and lead the department in a new direction.
