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 previously served as the 33rd Governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025. Prior to her governorship, Noem represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. Her career has been marked by roles in both the executive and legislative branches of government.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

February 2019: Assessment of Trade War Impact

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

2019: Signed Anti-Protest Legislation

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

2019: Veto of Hemp Legalization Bill

In 2019, Kristi Noem vetoed a bill passed by the South Dakota House and Senate to legalize hemp cultivation, citing concerns that it would undermine drug law enforcement and lead to marijuana legalization.

March 13, 2020: Noem orders K-12 schools to close

On March 13, 2020, Kristi Noem ordered K-12 schools to close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This action was taken to mitigate the spread of the virus among students and staff.

April 6, 2020: Noem issues executive order and stay-at-home recommendation

On April 6, 2020, Kristi Noem issued an executive order that said people "shall" follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She also ordered everyone over age 65 in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties to stay home for three weeks. This was part of the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 if the meatpacking plants' owners gave permission. Inspectors were expected to supply their own masks. This occurred during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 13, 2020: Noem comments on Smithfield outbreak

On April 13, 2020, regarding the COVID-19 outbreak at a Smithfield pork plant, Kristi Noem told Fox News, "We believe that 99 percent of what's going on today wasn't happening inside the facility". This statement came as hundreds of workers had tested positive at the plant, downplaying the spread within the workplace.

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July 3, 2020: Noem attends Mount Rushmore event without mask mandates

On July 3, 2020, Kristi Noem did not mandate social distancing or the wearing of face masks at an event at Mount Rushmore with then-President Trump present. Health experts warned about the risks of large gatherings without precautions. Noem publicly doubted the usefulness of masks, citing analysis by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.

October 22, 2020: COVID-19 hospitalizations reach record high

On October 22, 2020, COVID-19 patients hospitalized in South Dakota reached a record high of 355, including 75 in Intensive Care Units. This surge occurred after the 2020 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, in which Noem participated. Hospital systems rescheduled elective procedures to accommodate the increase in patients.

November 2020: Noem promotes tourism using pandemic relief funds

In November 2020, during a surge in COVID-19 cases in South Dakota, Kristi Noem used pandemic relief funds to promote tourism. She did not implement face mask mandates, raised doubts about the efficacy of mask-wearing, encouraged large gatherings without social distancing or mask-wearing, and questioned public health experts' advice.

December 2020: Noem avoids statewide mandates amid COVID-19

As of December 2020, Kristi 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. Her approach mirrored Trump's rhetoric and handling of the pandemic.

2020: Legislation to Repeal Sections of Previous Bill

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

2020: COVID-19 outbreak at Smithfield Foods plant

In early 2020, one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S. occurred in South Dakota at the Smithfield Foods production plant in Sioux Falls. The outbreak resulted in four deaths, with nearly 1,300 workers and their family members testing positive. Noem publicly echoed the misinformation that the spread was not happening at work but rather in the workers "home and social" habits.

2020: Noem opts out of federal unemployment benefits

Sixteen weeks after Trump's 2020 executive order that provided enhanced weekly unemployment benefits of $300, Kristi Noem opted out of the program, citing a low state unemployment rate. South Dakota was the only state to refuse the assistance, even though its jobless rate was up from March.

July 2021: Changes in Department of Corrections leadership

In July 2021, Kristi Noem placed Secretary of the Department of Corrections Mike Liedholt on administrative leave and fired South Dakota State Penitentiary Warden Darin Young and Deputy Warden Jennifer Dreiske. This followed an anonymous note with complaints regarding pay, medical coverage, and instances of sexual harassment. Liedholt later announced his retirement.

August 2021: Review of Department of Corrections operations

In August 2021, Kristi Noem announced that the CGL Group, a California-based company, was hired for $166,410 to comprehensively review the Department of Corrections operations. At the same time, the director of the prison work program was fired, and two other DOC employees were relieved of their duties.

September 22, 2021: Lawsuit filed to obtain documents about National Guard deployment

On September 22, 2021, the Center for Public Integrity sued the South Dakota National Guard and the U.S. Department of Defense in federal district court in the District of Columbia to obtain documents about the deployment of National Guard members to Texas's border with Mexico and the donation that funded it.

2021: Lawsuit over Mount Rushmore Fireworks

In 2021, Kristi Noem sued U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to reinstate fireworks at Mount Rushmore for Independence Day, which had been halted in 2009 due to fire risks. The U.S. District Court dismissed the suit, but Noem filed an appeal on July 13.

January 21, 2022: "Prayer Bill" Defeated in Committee

On January 21, 2022, the "prayer bill", HB 1015, which sought to have prayer put back in school, was defeated in the House Education Committee by a vote of 9–6.

February 24, 2022: House Resolution 7004 introduced against Noem

On February 24, 2022, Republican State Representative John Mills introduced House Resolution 7004, "Addressing the Governor's unacceptable actions in matters related to the appraiser certification program", against Kristi Noem. This resolution was a formal challenge to her actions regarding her daughter's real estate appraisal license denial.

March 14, 2022: Bawek files lawsuit alleging retaliation

On March 14, 2022, Stephany Bawek, the former prison work program director, filed a lawsuit in federal district court alleging that she was fired for reporting incidents of sexual harassment in the workplace. This followed her complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claiming retaliation.

2022: Banning TikTok from state-owned devices

In 2022, Kristi Noem issued an order banning TikTok from state-owned devices, citing concerns that the Chinese Communist Party uses the information gathered on TikTok to manipulate the American people. This action reflects her stance against China and efforts to protect user data on state-owned devices.

2022: RV Park Proposal in Custer State Park

In 2022, Kristi Noem proposed locating a government-paid RV park in Custer State Park, but it faced significant opposition and was effectively killed by the House Agricultural and Natural Resources committee.

2022: Gun Range Proposal Rejected

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

2022: National Defense Authorization Act bans privately funded National Guard deployments

The 2022 National Defense Authorization Act banned National Guard members from crossing state borders to perform duties paid for by private donors. This legislation affected deployments like the one Kristi Noem authorized to the Texas border with Mexico, which was funded by a private donation.

2023: Prohibiting Tencent applications on state-owned devices

In 2023, Kristi Noem signed an order prohibiting the downloading or use of any application or visiting of any site owned by the Chinese company Tencent, including WeChat, on state-owned devices. This was part of her continued effort to safeguard against perceived threats from Chinese technology companies.

April 2024: Waning Odds as Running Mate

In April 2024, insiders suggested that Kristi Noem's odds of being selected as Donald Trump's running mate had decreased due to her stance on abortion and revelations in her book. By June, reports indicated she was no longer on the shortlist.

2024: Prohibiting land purchase by foreign governments

In 2024, Kristi Noem signed a bill prohibiting the governments of six countries—China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela—and entities from those countries from buying agricultural land in South Dakota. This action was aimed at protecting the state's agricultural resources from foreign influence.

2024: Tribes ban Noem from tribal lands

In 2024, all nine tribes of South Dakota reportedly banned Kristi Noem from entering any tribal lands, effectively prohibiting her from almost 20% of South Dakota. However, reports also indicated that the Yankton Sioux tribe had not officially banned Noem, leading to conflicting information in the media.