Kristi Noem
Secretary of Homeland Security
Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem was born in November 1971 in Watertown, South Dakota. She attended Northern State University. She left college to help her family run their farm when her father was killed in a machine-related accident. She later earned an undergraduate degree from South Dakota State University while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Noem won the seat in the House in 2006, and was reelected five times. She became the state legislative member for the Civil Air Patrol. She won the governorship of South Dakota in 2018 and was reelected in 2022.
In November 2024, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security. She was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in late January 2025.
Noem is married to Bryon and they have three children. She is a Protestant.
In the News…
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reinstituted a policy that requires legislators providing oversight to give the agency a week’s notice in advance of visits to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities.
Secretary Noem wrote, “The basis for this policy is that advance notice is necessary to ensure adequate protection for Members of Congress, congressional staff, detainees, and ICE employees alike.“
“Unannounced visits require pulling ICE officers away from their normal duties,” Secretary Noem explained. “Moreover, there is an increasing trend of replacing legitimate oversight activities with circus-like publicity stunts, all of which creates a chaotic environment with heightened emotions.”
The DHS secretary stated that the policy falls under funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill, categorizing it differently than a similar policy that was stayed last year in federal court, and “not subject to Section 527’s limitations.“
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Secretary Noem today? You can let her know at:
The Honorable Kristi Noem, Secretary
Department of Homeland Security
2707 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
Washington, DC 20528-0525
