Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Kristi Noem
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Kristi Noem.
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.
August 2010: Expressed Opposition to Embryonic Stem-Cell Research
In August 2010, Kristi Noem indicated in a questionnaire that she would vote to ban embryonic stem-cell research.
2011: Sponsored Measure to Block EPA Funding
In 2011, Kristi Noem sponsored a measure to block Environmental Protection Agency funding for tighter air pollution standards for coarse particulates.
2015: Co-sponsored bill to define human life
In 2015, Kristi Noem co-sponsored a bill to amend the 14th Amendment defining human life and personhood as beginning at fertilization, federally banning abortion from that moment.
2015: Co-sponsored legislation to define human life at fertilization
In 2015, Kristi Noem co-sponsored legislation to define human life and personhood as beginning at the moment of fertilization, without exceptions for in-vitro fertilization or embryonic stem-cell research.
2015: Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage
In 2015, Kristi Noem expressed disagreement with Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court's ruling that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional.
2015: Comparison to Indiana RFRA Law
The religious refusal legislation signed by Kristi Noem in 2021 resembles the 2015 bill signed into law by Indiana Governor Mike Pence, which also sparked controversy.
2017: Supported Trump's Executive Order 13769
In 2017, Kristi Noem supported President Donald Trump's Executive Order 13769, which suspended the U.S. refugee program for 120 days and banned travel from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days.
May 2019: Proposed Fence Around Governor's Mansion
In May 2019, Kristi Noem proposed building a fence around the governor's mansion at an estimated cost of $400,000, but later retracted the proposal.
November 18, 2019: Release of "Meth. We're on It" Awareness Campaign
On November 18, 2019, Kristi Noem released a meth awareness campaign named "Meth. We're on It". The campaign was widely mocked, and she was criticized for spending public funds on an out-of-state advertising agency.
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: Signed Bills Restricting Abortion
In 2019, Kristi Noem signed bills restricting abortion, stating they would "crack down on abortion providers in South Dakota".
2019: Veto of Hemp Legalization Bill
In 2019, Kristi Noem vetoed a bill that passed the South Dakota House and Senate to legalize hemp cultivation, expressing concerns about undermining drug law enforcement.
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 8, 2020: Tacit Acknowledgment of Biden Administration
On December 8, 2020, Kristi Noem tacitly acknowledged the outcome of the presidential election when she referred to a "Biden administration" during her annual state budget address.
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: Opposition to Cannabis Legalization
In 2020, Kristi 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 against the recreational use measure.
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: Addressed Unconstitutional Sections of Anti-Riot Legislation
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 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.
2020: Revival of Governor's Mansion Fence Project
In 2020, the fence project proposed in 2019 for the governor's mansion was revived based on the recommendations of Kristi Noem's security team.
January 6, 2021: Response to U.S. Capitol Attack
After the U.S. Capitol was attacked by a pro-Trump mob on January 6, 2021, Kristi Noem spoke out against the violence. The next day, she called the newly elected Democratic senators from Georgia "communists", prompting criticism.
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.
March 8, 2021: Announcement of Women's Fairness in Sports Bill
On March 8, 2021, Kristi Noem announced on Twitter her intent to sign into law H.B. 1217, the Women's Fairness in Sports Bill, which aimed to ban transgender athletes from women's school and college sports teams.
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 2021: Extramarital Affair Allegation
In September 2021, American Greatness reported that Noem was having an extramarital affair with Corey Lewandowski, which Noem denied, calling it a "disgusting lie".
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.
November 2021: Reported Spending on Governor's Mansion
In late November 2021, it was reported that Kristi Noem spent $68,000 of taxpayer dollars on imported rugs from India, chandeliers and a sauna for the governor's mansion.
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.
December 2021: Support for "An Act to Protect Fairness in women's sports."
In December 2021, Kristi Noem and her office signaled their support for a bill called "An Act to Protect Fairness in women's sports," which would require young athletes to join teams aligning with their biological sex at birth.
2021: Signing of Religious Refusal Bill
In 2021, Kristi Noem signed a religious refusal bill into law, amending the state RFRA to allow business owners to cite religious beliefs as a basis to deny products or services to people based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
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: 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: Expressed Views on Climate Change
In 2022, Kristi Noem stated she believes the science on climate change has been varied and has not been proven to her that human actions are affecting the climate.
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.
September 2023: Similar Reports Published
In September 2023, similar reports about Noem and Lewandowski were published by the New York Post and the Daily Mail, which Noem's spokesman also denied.
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: Reversed support for federal abortion ban
In April 2024, Kristi Noem reversed her support for a federal ban on abortion, stating she believed abortion law should be determined at the state level and supported South Dakota's law banning abortion except to save the life of the pregnant patient.
April 2024: Controversy over Dog Killing in Autobiography
In April 2024, excerpts from Noem's autobiography, 'No Going Back', were released, revealing that she shot her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer, Cricket, in a gravel pit after a pheasant hunt, deeming the dog untrainable and dangerous. Noem also killed her family's male goat. The incident received broad criticism.
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.
2024: Published "No Going Back"
In 2024, Kristi Noem published her autobiography, "No Going Back", which sparked controversy.
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.
January 28, 2025: Raid on Illegal Immigrants in New York City
On the early morning of January 28, 2025, Kristi Noem led a raid with federal law enforcement agencies on illegal immigrants in New York City. A video of the raid was posted on X.
April 2025: Reported Social Security Administration Misconduct
In April 2025, The Washington Post reported that Kristi Noem and acting Social Security Administration commissioner Leland Dudek had instructed the Social Security Administration to falsely list over 6,000 living immigrants in its database of dead people.
April 20, 2025: Purse Stolen in D.C.
On the evening of April 20, 2025, Kristi Noem's purse was stolen from a D.C. burger restaurant. The purse contained her government access badge, apartment keys, a large sum of cash, passport, and blank checks, raising security concerns.
May 20, 2025: Senate Hearing on DHS Budget
During a May 20, 2025, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on the Department of Homeland Security's budget for fiscal year 2026, Kristi Noem incorrectly defined habeas corpus, prompting criticism.
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