Why Noem Was Appointed to the Homeland Security Position
The governor of a smaller Republican-leaning state lacks experience in law enforcement.
TroibNews 
The announcement of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as the nominee for Homeland Security secretary has caught some by surprise. Though she lacks direct experience in the department and does not have a law enforcement background, Noem has gained backing from key advisors in Donald Trump’s circle. Prominent among them are his 2016 campaign chief Corey Lewandowski and incoming Border Czar Tom Homan, both of whom advocated for her nomination and played a role in securing it, according to sources who requested anonymity to discuss the nomination process.
Supporters of Noem’s rise see it as a sign that immigration policy will be primarily managed out of the White House by Homan and Stephen Miller, who serves as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. With her limited experience in immigration issues, Noem is expected to focus on other responsibilities within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which encompasses agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Secret Service.
“The only thing I could think of is that the immigration part of DHS is basically going to be handled out of the White House, and she’ll be secretary of FEMA, TSA, Secret Service, cybersecurity — kind of an unofficial division of labor,” remarked Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, an organization advocating for stricter immigration controls.
Homan is anticipated to collaborate closely with Noem’s team at DHS. Previously, he led the agency responsible for arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants and was a prominent Trump immigration spokesperson during the campaign. Before the election, he was considered a candidate for DHS secretary but instead accepted a White House position focused on border security and deportations — a role not requiring Senate confirmation and offering more flexibility.
The DHS is a large, intricate organization, second only to the Defense Department in terms of personnel. It also encompasses the federal agency responsible for cybersecurity and election security, along with a dedicated intelligence office.
Though Lewandowski has not secured a formal position in the administration, he and Noem have maintained a long-standing relationship. Their connection did experience tension in 2021 following accusations of unwanted sexual advances against Lewandowski from the wife of a Republican donor. Lewandowski has denied the claims, and it seems any rift has been repaired.
This arrangement raises various questions regarding the unofficial hierarchy within DHS, especially about whether Noem will effectively report to Miller and Homan for immigration matters. There is also uncertainty about who will fill key immigration leadership positions under DHS, including the heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, creating potential for friction between White House officials and DHS leaders.
However, some allies see the centralization of immigration tasks within the White House as a constructive approach to aligning border policy across the federal landscape, believing that Noem will be inclined to cooperate rather than engage in disputes. “Noem, as an effective governor coming in, she’s going to have all these different areas of expertise,” stated Dan Stein, president of the restrictionist Federation for American Immigration Reform. “In our view, she’s going to put her trust in Miller and Homan to guide her on proper border security initiatives — probably take that load off her. Hopefully, there won’t be conflict, but obviously there’s the potential for turf wars.”
Concerns regarding Noem’s lack of experience with natural disasters and presidential protection have been voiced by some close to Trump, particularly given the expansive nature of the department she will oversee. This is especially relevant considering the Secret Service’s recent scrutiny following two assassination attempts on Trump and ongoing investigations indicating a need for a renewed focus.
During her tenure as governor, South Dakota has encountered several natural disasters requiring FEMA's assistance, including significant flooding this past summer.
One area where she has placed emphasis as governor is cybersecurity, branding it as South Dakota’s “next big industry” and highlighting Dakota State University’s focus on the topic. In 2022, Noem became one of the first governors to ban TikTok, a Beijing-based app, from state devices.
“The Chinese Communist Party uses information that it gathers on TikTok to manipulate the American people, and they gather data off the devices that access the platform,” she stated when announcing the ban.
Additionally, Noem has voiced pro-Trump stances on immigration matters. Since taking office, she has dispatched her state's National Guard troops to the southern border at least five times. After the exit of American troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, she expressed her reservations about welcoming Afghan refugees to South Dakota. “I don’t have the confidence today because they haven’t said they are going to vet them,” she commented.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
Supporters of Noem’s rise see it as a sign that immigration policy will be primarily managed out of the White House by Homan and Stephen Miller, who serves as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. With her limited experience in immigration issues, Noem is expected to focus on other responsibilities within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which encompasses agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Secret Service.
“The only thing I could think of is that the immigration part of DHS is basically going to be handled out of the White House, and she’ll be secretary of FEMA, TSA, Secret Service, cybersecurity — kind of an unofficial division of labor,” remarked Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, an organization advocating for stricter immigration controls.
Homan is anticipated to collaborate closely with Noem’s team at DHS. Previously, he led the agency responsible for arresting and deporting undocumented immigrants and was a prominent Trump immigration spokesperson during the campaign. Before the election, he was considered a candidate for DHS secretary but instead accepted a White House position focused on border security and deportations — a role not requiring Senate confirmation and offering more flexibility.
The DHS is a large, intricate organization, second only to the Defense Department in terms of personnel. It also encompasses the federal agency responsible for cybersecurity and election security, along with a dedicated intelligence office.
Though Lewandowski has not secured a formal position in the administration, he and Noem have maintained a long-standing relationship. Their connection did experience tension in 2021 following accusations of unwanted sexual advances against Lewandowski from the wife of a Republican donor. Lewandowski has denied the claims, and it seems any rift has been repaired.
This arrangement raises various questions regarding the unofficial hierarchy within DHS, especially about whether Noem will effectively report to Miller and Homan for immigration matters. There is also uncertainty about who will fill key immigration leadership positions under DHS, including the heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, creating potential for friction between White House officials and DHS leaders.
However, some allies see the centralization of immigration tasks within the White House as a constructive approach to aligning border policy across the federal landscape, believing that Noem will be inclined to cooperate rather than engage in disputes. “Noem, as an effective governor coming in, she’s going to have all these different areas of expertise,” stated Dan Stein, president of the restrictionist Federation for American Immigration Reform. “In our view, she’s going to put her trust in Miller and Homan to guide her on proper border security initiatives — probably take that load off her. Hopefully, there won’t be conflict, but obviously there’s the potential for turf wars.”
Concerns regarding Noem’s lack of experience with natural disasters and presidential protection have been voiced by some close to Trump, particularly given the expansive nature of the department she will oversee. This is especially relevant considering the Secret Service’s recent scrutiny following two assassination attempts on Trump and ongoing investigations indicating a need for a renewed focus.
During her tenure as governor, South Dakota has encountered several natural disasters requiring FEMA's assistance, including significant flooding this past summer.
One area where she has placed emphasis as governor is cybersecurity, branding it as South Dakota’s “next big industry” and highlighting Dakota State University’s focus on the topic. In 2022, Noem became one of the first governors to ban TikTok, a Beijing-based app, from state devices.
“The Chinese Communist Party uses information that it gathers on TikTok to manipulate the American people, and they gather data off the devices that access the platform,” she stated when announcing the ban.
Additionally, Noem has voiced pro-Trump stances on immigration matters. Since taking office, she has dispatched her state's National Guard troops to the southern border at least five times. After the exit of American troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, she expressed her reservations about welcoming Afghan refugees to South Dakota. “I don’t have the confidence today because they haven’t said they are going to vet them,” she commented.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
