Challenges in the Life of Kristi Noem in a Detailed Timeline

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Kristi Noem. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Kristi Noem is an American politician who has served as the 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security since 2025. A Republican, she was the 33rd governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025. Prior to her governorship, she represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. Noem's political career began in the South Dakota House of Representatives, where she served from 2007 to 2011, establishing her foundation in state-level politics before ascending to national prominence.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

August 2010: Stem-cell Research

In August 2010, while running for Congress, Kristi Noem indicated that she would vote to ban embryonic stem-cell research.

2010: Support for Keystone XL Pipeline

In 2010, Kristi Noem supported the Keystone XL Pipeline.

March 2011: Criticism of Obama's Libya Policy

In March 2011, Kristi Noem criticized President Barack Obama's approach to the NATO-led military intervention in Libya, requesting more clarity on the U.S.'s role.

2011: Debt Ceiling Vote

In 2011, Kristi Noem indicated she would vote to raise the federal debt ceiling if tied to budget reforms and voted for The Budget Control Act of 2011.

2011: Sponsored Measure to Block EPA Funding

In 2011, Kristi Noem sponsored a measure to block Environmental Protection Agency funding for stricter air pollution standards.

2015: Co-sponsored anti-abortion bill

In 2015, Kristi Noem co-sponsored a bill to amend the 14th Amendment to define human life as beginning at fertilization, effectively banning abortion from that moment.

2017: Support for Trump's Executive Order 13769

In 2017, Kristi Noem supported President Donald Trump's Executive Order 13769, which temporarily suspended the U.S. refugee program and banned travel from several Muslim-majority countries.

February 2019: Trade Wars Devastated South Dakota Economy

In February 2019, Kristi Noem stated that the Trump administration's trade wars with China and the European Union had devastated South Dakota's economy, particularly the agricultural sector.

2019: Participation in U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program

In 2019, Kristi Noem consented to South Dakota's participation in the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program.

2019: Signed Anti-Protest Legislation

In 2019, Kristi Noem signed anti-protest legislation developed with the TransCanada Corporation in response to protests against the Keystone Pipeline.

2019: Signed Abortion Restriction Bills

In 2019, Kristi Noem signed bills restricting abortion, stating they would "crack down on abortion providers in South Dakota."

2019: Vetoed Hemp Cultivation Bill

In 2019, Kristi Noem vetoed a bill that had passed the South Dakota House and Senate to legalize hemp cultivation, citing concerns about undermining drug law enforcement.

March 13, 2020: Noem Orders K-12 School Closures

On March 13, 2020, Noem ordered the closure of K-12 schools in South Dakota in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 6, 2020: Executive Order and CDC Guidance

On April 6, 2020, Noem issued an executive order mandating that people "shall" follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She also ordered everyone over the age of 65 in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties to stay home for three weeks.

April 9, 2020: Inspectors Allowed to Wear Masks with Permission

On April 9, 2020, the Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that its inspectors would be allowed to wear masks at meatpacking plants if the owners granted them permission. Inspectors were initially expected to provide their own masks.

April 13, 2020: Noem's Statement on Smithfield Outbreak

On April 13, 2020, Noem stated on Fox News regarding the COVID-19 outbreak at the Smithfield pork plant that "We believe that 99 percent of what's going on today wasn't happening inside the facility".

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July 3, 2020: Mount Rushmore Event with Trump

On July 3, 2020, Noem did not mandate social distancing or the wearing of face masks at an event held at Mount Rushmore, which was attended by President Trump. She publicly doubted scientific recommendations on mask usage and cited analysis from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons to defend her views.

October 22, 2020: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Reach Record High

On October 22, 2020, COVID-19 hospitalizations in South Dakota reached a record high of 355, including 75 in Intensive Care Units, following the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Hospital systems rescheduled elective procedures, and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken urged people to "Wear a dang mask".

November 2020: Promotion of Tourism During Pandemic Surge

In November 2020, during a surge of COVID-19 cases, Noem utilized pandemic relief funds to promote tourism in South Dakota, while also declining to implement face mask mandates and questioning the efficacy of mask-wearing.

December 2020: No Statewide Mandates

As of December 2020, Noem was one of the few governors who had not maintained statewide stay-at-home orders or face-mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Legislation to Repeal Sections of Anti-Riot Bill

In 2020, Kristi Noem brought legislation to repeal sections of the previous anti-riot bill and clarify the definition of "incitement to riot" after a federal court struck down parts of the law as unconstitutional.

2020: Noem Opts Out of Enhanced Unemployment Benefits

In 2020, sixteen weeks after Trump's executive order for enhanced unemployment benefits, Noem opted out of the program, making South Dakota the only state to refuse the assistance despite a jobless rate of 7.2% in June.

2020: COVID-19 Outbreak at Smithfield Foods

In early 2020, South Dakota experienced one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S., impacting the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, with four deaths and nearly 1,300 workers and their families testing positive.

January 21, 2022: "Prayer Bill" Defeated

On January 21, 2022, the "prayer bill", HB 1015, which Kristi Noem sought to have put back in school, was defeated in the House Education Committee by a vote of 9–6. It was also admitted that no schools were consulted about the proposal.

2022: Banned TikTok from State-Owned Devices

In 2022, Kristi Noem issued an order banning TikTok from state-owned devices, citing concerns about the Chinese Communist Party's use of gathered information.

2022: Rejected Gun Range Proposal

In 2022, Kristi Noem sought to build a gun range in Meade County using government funds, but the legislature rejected the proposal.

2022: RV Park Proposal Rejected

In 2022, Kristi Noem's proposal to locate a government-paid RV park in Custer State Park faced significant opposition and was effectively killed by the House Agricultural and Natural Resources committee.

2023: Banned Tencent Apps and Sites

In 2023, Kristi Noem signed an order prohibiting the downloading or use of any application or visiting of any site owned by Tencent, including WeChat, on state-owned devices.

April 2024: Controversy over Noem's autobiography excerpt

In April 2024, pre-release excerpts from Kristi Noem's second autobiography, "No Going Back", sparked widespread criticism. The excerpt recounted an incident where Noem shot her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer, Cricket, and her family's male goat, because of Cricket's poor hunting performance and the goat's unpleasant nature. This led to accusations of animal cruelty and questions about her judgment. There were questions raised about whether this violated South Dakota law.

No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward

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2024: Bill prohibiting land purchase by foreign governments

In 2024, Kristi Noem signed a bill prohibiting governments of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela from buying agricultural land in South Dakota.

2025: Imagining Presidency and Biden's Dog

In 2025, in her memoir, Noem wrote about envisioning herself succeeding Joe Biden as president. She mentioned that her first action would be to remove Joe Biden's dog, Commander, from the White House grounds, implying a similar fate to her own dog, Cricket. This statement followed Commander's removal from the White House due to multiple biting incidents.