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, Noem represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. Her career reflects a progression through different levels of government service.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

March 1994: Father's Death and Taking Over Family Farm

In March 1994, Kristi Noem's father tragically died in a grain bin accident, prompting her to leave college early to take over the family farm.

February 2019: Trade War Impact on South Dakota Economy

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

2019: Signed Anti-Protest Legislation

In 2019, Kristi Noem signed into law 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, Noem vetoed a bill that passed the South Dakota House and Senate to legalize hemp cultivation, citing concerns about undermining drug laws and making marijuana legalization inevitable.

March 13, 2020: School Closures Ordered

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

April 6, 2020: Executive Order on CDC Guidelines and Stay-at-Home Order

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 agency said its inspectors would be allowed to wear masks if the meatpacking plants' owners gave the federal employees permission to do so. Inspectors were expected to supply their own masks.

July 3, 2020: No Social Distancing or Masks 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 Donald Trump present, despite health experts' warnings.

October 22, 2020: Record High COVID-19 Hospitalizations

On October 22, 2020, COVID-19 patients hospitalized in South Dakota reached a record high of 355, including 75 in Intensive Care Units.

November 2020: Promotion of Tourism During COVID-19 Surge

In November 2020, Kristi Noem used pandemic relief funds to promote tourism during a surge in COVID-19 cases in South Dakota.

December 2020: No Statewide Mandates

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

2020: Opposition to Cannabis Legalization Measures

In 2020, Noem opposed two ballot measures to legalize cannabis for medical and recreational use in South Dakota. After both measures passed, she and two police officers filed a lawsuit challenging the recreational use measure, Amendment A.

2020: Repealed and Clarified Anti-Riot Legislation

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

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.

July 2021: Changes in Department of Corrections Leadership and Mask Mandate

In July 2021, Kristi Noem placed Secretary of the Department of Corrections Mike Liedholt on administrative leave, fired South Dakota State Penitentiary Warden Darin Young and Deputy Warden Jennifer Dreiske, and ended the prison's mask mandate despite lingering COVID-19 cases.

August 2021: Hiring of CGL Group and DOC Employee Firings

In August 2021, Kristi Noem announced that the CGL Group was hired to review the Department of Corrections operations, and the director of the prison work program was fired along with two other DOC employees.

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, a practice halted in 2009 due to fire risks. Noem hired a private law firm using South Dakota taxpayer funds, but the U.S. District Court dismissed the suit. An appeal was later filed 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. An aide to Noem admitted that no schools were consulted about the proposal.

February 24, 2022: Introduction of House Resolution 7004

On February 24, 2022, Republican State Representative John Mills introduced House Resolution 7004 against Kristi Noem, addressing her "unacceptable actions in matters related to the appraiser certification program".

2022: Banning TikTok from state-owned devices

In 2022, Kristi Noem issued an order to ban TikTok from state-owned devices due to concerns about the Chinese Communist Party using gathered information to manipulate Americans.

2022: RV Park Proposal in Custer State Park

In 2022, Noem proposed locating a government-paid RV park in Custer State Park, which faced opposition due to concerns about competing with private businesses and disturbing the park's natural environment. The bill was effectively killed after being deferred by the House Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee.

2022: Legislature Rejected Gun Range Proposal

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

2022: Revocation of Legal Protections for Immigrants

In March of 2022, Noem revoked legal protections for 532,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who had settled in the U.S. since 2022.

2023: Prohibiting Tencent Applications

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.

April 2024: Waning Odds of Being Selected as Trump's Running Mate

In April 2024, it was reported that Noem's chances of being selected as Trump's running mate had decreased due to her stance on abortion and the controversial content in her book, "No Going Back".

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2024: Prohibiting governments from buying agricultural land

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

2024: Tribes Ban Noem from Tribal Lands

In 2024, all nine tribes of South Dakota banned Kristi Noem from entering any tribal lands after demanding an apology for her comments about them.

June 17, 2025: Hospitalization for Allergic Reaction

On June 17, 2025, Kristi Noem was hospitalized for an unspecified allergic reaction but was released that night.

2026: Incorrect Definition of Habeas Corpus

During a May 2026 Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Noem incorrectly defined habeas corpus as a presidential right to remove people from the country, which is actually a constitutional right for detainees to have a court review the legality of their detention.