So long, Mayorkas — and good riddance….
According to reports from multiple media outlets, President-elect Donald Trump will tap South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to be his Department of Homeland Security Secretary.
Noem will join fellow immigration hard-liners Tom Homan and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller in Trump’s Cabinet.
From The Wall Street Journal:
A Trump transition spokeswoman and a spokesman for Noem didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. CNN earlier reported that Trump had chosen Noem. Trump has already made several other picks for key positions in his administration.
If confirmed, Noem would oversee an agency with a wide-ranging mission. The department is responsible for natural disasters, cybersecurity and transportation security, in addition to its central role in immigration enforcement.
DHS, more than any other agency, saw immense turmoil during Trump’s first term, with five people serving as secretary—only two of them Senate-confirmed. Many of Trump’s favored immigration policies in the final year of his term were struck down by courts because they were issued by his final homeland security secretary, Chad Wolf, who had been improperly appointed to his role.
Noem was elected in 2018 as South Dakota’s first woman governor. She drew national attention for refusing to institute a mask mandate and reopening schools earlier than many other states—moves that were popular in conservative South Dakota.
This story is developing…
