Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's political career in photos

President Donald Trump stands with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Representative Zach Nunn (R-IA), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA), upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews following a visit to Iowa, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, July 4, 2025.

Chair of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee Gene Sykes, former Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin, Chief of Protocol of the United States Monica Crowley, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi stand as U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) delivers remarks before signing an executive order to create a White House Olympics task force to handle security and other issues related to the LA 2028 summer Olympic in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus in Washington, D.C., August 5, 2025.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, seated at the Ecuadorian Presidential Palace, is greeted by Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld, before the arrival of Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, July 31, 2025, in Quito, Ecuador.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is presented flowers by Alejandro Davalos, Vice Minister of Human Mobility at Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as she arrives at the new Mariscal Sucre International Airport, in Quito, Ecuador, July 30, 2025.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attends a security demonstration related to TSA screening and a Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP) at Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport before departing Santiago, Chile, July 30, 2025.

President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are pictured visiting a temporary migrant detention center in Ochopee, Florida, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Chile's Minister of Public Security Luis Cordero and Chilean Minister of Justice and Human Rights Jaime Gajardo sign a letter of intent for a Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP) at the Security Ministry in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem strikes a dance pose after she and Argentine National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich watched a "gaucho" dance demonstration at the Campo De Mayo Military Base in Buenos Aires province, Argentina, July 28, 2025.

Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies in front of the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2025.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 30, 2025.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during the Border Security Expo at the Phoenix Convention Center on April 8, 2025, in Phoenix.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center (CECOT) as prisoners stand, looking out from a cell, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26, 2025.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (R), participates in a firefighting drill with a training helicopter during a tour of US Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, March 17, 2025, in Kodiak, Alaska.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem looks out during an aerial tour on a HC-130J aircraft from US Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak on March 17, 2025, in Kodiak Station, Alaska.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (R) pilots a US Coast Guard Response Boat-Small (RBS) with the Maritime Security Response Team in San Diego, California, on March 16, 2025.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (R) participates in a ship assault demonstration on board the US Coast Guard Cutter Elm with the Maritime Security Response Team on March 16, 2025, in San Diego, California.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem rides a four-wheeler during a tour along the Nogales border wall at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona, March 15, 2025.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a TV interview with Fox News outside of the White House on March 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. N

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during the Super Bowl LIX Public Safety Press Conference at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on Feb. 3, 2025 in New Orleans.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem delivers remarks to staff at the Department of Homeland Security headquarters on Jan. 28, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem arrives for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with moderator and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem during a town hall at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and Fairgrounds in Oaks, Pa., on Oct. 14, 2024.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security speaks during a confirmation hearing on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Washington.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem appears at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024 on Feb. 23, 2024, in National Harbor, MD

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks ahead of former President Donald Trump during a campaign event outside Wright Bros. Aero Inc. at the Dayton International Airport for U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Dayton, Ohio.

Gov. Kristi Noem speaks to legislators during the State of the State address on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 at South Dakota State Captiol in Pierre.

Gov. Kristi Noem takes pictures with attendees during a caucus event in support of Donald Trump on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 at County Celebrations Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Bryon Noem hugs his wife, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, after she takes the oath of office to begin her second term on Jan. 7, 2023, at the state Capitol in Pierre. The governor would become the head of the Department of Homeland Security in 2025.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, with her family behind her, speaks after winning reelection on Tuesday evening, November 8, 2022, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Sioux Falls.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem helps Renee Simonsen check out customers' groceries at Sunshine Foods before meeting with members of the press on Wednesday, Oc. 12, 2022, in Sioux Falls.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem answers questions during a press conference at the State Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022.

Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota greets guests at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip campground after riding in the Legends Ride for charity on Aug. 9, 2021 near Sturgis, S.D.

Gov. Kristi Noem presents the U.S. flag before the national anthem is played at the Professional Bull Riders competition on Saturday, July 11, 2020 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Gov. Kristi Noem is hugged by her husband, Bryon Noem, at her inauguration ceremony in Pierre, S.D., Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. Noem is the first woman to hold the position of governor in South Dakota.

President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem speak Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, at South Dakota Air National Guard in Sioux Falls.

Kristi Noem makes her way through supporters before the gubernatorial debate with Billie Sutton Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2017 at KELO TV in Sioux Falls.

U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) (R) and U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) (C) join fellow Republicans for a media availability in the Speaker's offices in the U.S. Capitol March 29, 2011 in Washington, DC.