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 and Air Force Auxiliary officer. A Republican, she served as the 33rd governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025. Before becoming governor, Noem represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. Since 2025 she has served as the 8th United States secretary of homeland security.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

March 1994: Father's Death and Return to Family Farm

In March 1994, Kristi Noem's father passed away in a farm machinery accident, leading her to leave college to manage the family farm.

2009: Fireworks Displays Halted at Mount Rushmore

In 2009, the National Park Service halted fireworks displays at Mount Rushmore due to fire risks and other reasons. This action later led to a lawsuit by Kristi Noem in 2021.

March 2011: Critical of Obama's Approach to Libyan Intervention

In March 2011, Kristi Noem was critical of President Barack Obama's approach to the NATO-led military intervention in the 2011 Libyan civil war.

February 2019: Statement on Trade War Impact

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, especially the agricultural sector.

March 13, 2020: Ordered K-12 schools to close

On March 13, 2020, Kristi Noem ordered K-12 schools to close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 6, 2020: Issued executive order and ordered people over 65 to stay home

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.

April 9, 2020: Inspectors allowed to wear masks with permission

On April 9, 2020, the Food Safety and Inspection Service said its inspectors would be allowed to wear masks if the meatpacking plants' owners gave the federal employees permission to do so.

April 13, 2020: Commented on COVID-19 outbreak at Smithfield plant

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

April 2020: Peters received an Agreed Disposition

Around April 2020, Kassidy Peters received an Agreed Disposition regarding her real estate appraisal license.

July 3, 2020: No mask mandate at Mount Rushmore event

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. She publicly doubted scientific recommendations on the usefulness of masks, citing analysis by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.

July 20, 2020: Peters received a letter for failing to meet the requirements

Around July 20, 2020, Kassidy Peters received a letter and/or Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law when she failed to meet the requirements of the Agreed Disposition.

October 22, 2020: COVID-19 hospitalizations reached 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, following a drastic increase in COVID cases after the 2020 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, in which Noem participated.

November 2020: Used pandemic relief funds to promote tourism

In November 2020, during a surge in COVID-19 cases, Kristi Noem used pandemic relief funds to promote tourism in South Dakota. She did not implement face mask mandates and raised doubts about the efficacy of mask-wearing.

December 2020: One of few governors without statewide stay-at-home orders or face-mask mandates

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 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Opted out of enhanced unemployment benefits

In 2020, Kristi Noem opted South Dakota out of the federal program providing enhanced weekly unemployment benefits of $300, citing a low state unemployment rate, making South Dakota the only state to refuse the assistance.

2020: Summoned state employee over daughter's real estate appraisal license denial

In 2020, after Kristi Noem's daughter, Kassidy Peters, was denied a real estate appraisal license, Noem summoned Sherry Bren, a state employee who directed South Dakota's Appraiser Certification Program, to her office. Attendees included Peters, Noem's chief of staff, a Department of Labor Attorney, and the Labor Secretary.

2020: COVID-19 outbreaks in South Dakota

In 2020, one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S. occurred in South Dakota, particularly at the Smithfield Foods production plant in Sioux Falls. Kristi Noem publicly expressed the view that employees' "home and social" habits were spreading the contagion.

February 8, 2021: Amendment Struck Down as Unconstitutional

On February 8, 2021, circuit court judge Christina Klinger struck down the amendment legalizing recreational marijuana as unconstitutional. After the ruling, she also sought to delay the implementation of the medical marijuana initiative for a year.

June 2021: Announced sending National Guard to Texas border

In June 2021, Kristi Noem announced that she was sending members of the South Dakota National Guard to Texas's border with Mexico, funded by a donation from Tennessee billionaire Willis Johnson.

July 2021: Placed Corrections Secretary on leave and fired prison officials

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, after receiving an anonymous note with complaints. Noem also ended the prison's mask mandate.

August 2021: Hired CGL Group to review Corrections operations

In August 2021, Kristi Noem announced that the CGL Group was hired for $166,410 to comprehensively review the Department of Corrections operations. The director of the prison work program was also fired, and two other DOC employees were relieved of their duties.

September 22, 2021: Lawsuit filed over National Guard deployment to Texas border

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

October 2021: Invited Hultman and Bren to discuss the appraisal program

In October 2021, the State Senate's Government Operations and Audit Committee invited Marcia Hultman and Sherry Bren to discuss the appraisal program in light of the controversy.

November 1, 2021: Government Accountability Board set an agenda to discuss issues

On November 1, 2021, the Government Accountability Board set an agenda to discuss the issue regarding Noem's daughter's real estate appraisal license and another issue based on complaints brought by Ravnsborg.

December 14, 2021: Bren testified before the Government Operations and Audit Committee

On December 14, 2021, Sherry Bren testified before the Government Operations and Audit Committee, stating that Kassidy Peters received an Agreed Disposition around March/April 2020 and later a letter/Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law around July 20, 2020, for failing to meet the Agreed Disposition requirements.

December 15, 2021: Government Accountability Board referred complaints to Noem

On December 15, 2021, the Government Accountability Board referred one of the two complaints to Noem for a response and sent the other back to the complainant for further information.

2021: Noem Sues to Have Fireworks at Mount Rushmore

In 2021, Kristi Noem sued U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to allow 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.

January 21, 2022: "Prayer Bill" Defeated

On January 21, 2022, the "prayer bill", HB 1015, which Kristi Noem advocated for, was defeated in the House Education Committee by a vote of 9–6.

February 3, 2022: Government Accountability Board referred the second complaint to Noem

On February 3, 2022, the Government Accountability Board referred the second complaint to Noem for a response and gave her until April 15, 2022, to answer both pending complaints.

February 24, 2022: House Resolution 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.

March 14, 2022: Lawsuit filed by former prison work program director

On March 14, 2022, Stephany Bawek, 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.

April 15, 2022: Deadline to answer pending complaints

Kristi Noem had until April 15, 2022, to answer both pending complaints referred to her by the Government Accountability Board.

2022: Banned 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 information gathered on TikTok to manipulate the American people.

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: RV Park Proposal in Custer State Park

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

2022: National Defense Authorization Act banned private funding for National Guard deployments

In 2022, the National Defense Authorization Act banned National Guard members from crossing state borders to perform duties paid for by private donors.

2023: Prohibited apps/sites owned by Tencent 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.

January 2024: Noem comments on 'invasion' at the southern border

In January 2024, Kristi Noem stated that an "invasion is coming over the southern border" of the United States, and the "enemy is the Mexican drug cartels", which are "perpetrating violence in each of our states, even here in South Dakota ... The cartels are using our reservations to facilitate the spread of drugs throughout the Midwest."

March 2024: Noem suggests some tribal leaders benefit from cartels

In March 2024, Kristi Noem said there were "some tribal leaders that I believe are personally benefiting from the cartels being there", but gave no evidence, and that there were people "who actually live in those situations, who call me and text me every day and say, 'Please, dear governor, please come help us in Pine Ridge. We are scared.'"

April 2024: Diminished Odds of Being Selected 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 5, it was reported she was no longer on the shortlist.

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2024: Prohibited governments of six countries from buying agricultural land in South Dakota

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

2024: South Dakota Tribes banned Noem from Tribal lands

In 2024, the nine tribes of South Dakota banned Kristi Noem from entering any tribal lands, representing almost 20% of South Dakota. Some media reported that one tribe, the Yankton Sioux, had not officially banned Noem.