Trump taps puppy-killer Kristi Noem as head of Homeland Security: Report

US President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to serve as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to CNN, citing sources familiar with the decision.
Noem, 52, who made history as South Dakota’s first female governor after her election in 2018 and her re-election in 2022, was once considered a potential running mate for Trump. However, controversy erupted after she revealed in her book ‘No Going Back’ that she had shot her 14-month-old dog, an admission that drew widespread criticism and torpedoed her candidacy.
Despite this, Noem remained a vocal supporter of Trump’s, actively campaigning for him and speaking at the Republican National Convention. Trump reciprocated by installing yet another loyalist in his White House team as he prepares to take office on January 20.
Noem’s role at DHS will be key, as the agency is central to Trump’s immigration policies, including his pledge to carry out mass deportations of undocumented migrants. She will work alongside Tom Homan, who Trump has chosen as his “border czar,” and Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner who will serve as the White House deputy chief of staff.
Unlike Homan and Miller, Noem’s appointment requires Senate confirmation.
The Department of Homeland Security, created in response to the 9/11 terror attacks, is a sprawling agency with a $60 billion budget and hundreds of thousands of employees. It has a broad range of responsibilities ranging from border security, cybersecurity, investigating domestic terrorism threats, to responding to natural disasters and enforcing customs laws.
The agency also oversees the Secret Service, which has been under scrutiny following the attempt on Trump’s life at a rally in July, and led to the resignation of its director.