History of Kristi Noem in Timeline
Kristi Noem is an American politician who served as the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security from 2025 to 2026. As a Republican, she was the 33rd governor of South Dakota (2019-2025) and represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives (2011-2019). Her time at DHS was marked by controversies surrounding her immigration policies and the actions of ICE.
November 30, 1971: Birth of Kristi Noem
Kristi Lynn Arnold, now known as Kristi Noem, was born on November 30, 1971, in Watertown, South Dakota, to Corinne and Ron Arnold.
November 30, 1971: Kristi Noem's Birth
On November 30, 1971, Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem was born. She later became a prominent American politician.
1988: Sae Joon Park Enlists in the U.S. Army
In 1988, after graduating from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Sae Joon Park enlisted in the U.S. Army.
1989: Sae Joon Park Deployed to Panama
In 1989, Sae Joon Park was deployed to Panama during Operation Just Cause and was wounded by enemy gunfire.
January 13, 1990: South Dakota Snow Queen
On January 13, 1990, Kristi Noem was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen while a senior at Hamlin High School.
1990: Attendance at Northern State University
In 1990, Kristi Noem began attending Northern State University.
1992: Family Business Burns Down
After leaving the Army, Sae Joon Park suffered from PTSD, and his family's business burned to the ground during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
1992: Marriage to Bryon Noem
In 1992, Kristi Noem married Bryon Noem in Watertown, South Dakota.
March 1994: Father's Death and Return to Family Farm
In March 1994, Kristi Noem's father passed away in a grain bin accident. She left college early to manage the family farm.
April 21, 1994: Birth of Daughter Kassidy
On April 21, 1994, Kristi Noem's daughter, Kassidy, was born.
2006: Election to South Dakota House
In 2006, Kristi Noem won a seat as a Republican in the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 6th district.
2007: South Dakota House of Representatives
In 2007, Kristi Noem began her political career in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
2007: Term in the South Dakota House
In 2007, Kristi Noem began serving in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
2008: Re-election to South Dakota House
In 2008, Kristi Noem was re-elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives.
2009: Vice Chair of Task Force
In 2009, Kristi Noem served as vice chair of the Agriculture Land Assessment Advisory Task Force.
2009: Sae Joon Park Arrested
In 2009, Sae Joon Park moved to Hawaii and was arrested for attempting to buy cocaine.
2009: Fireworks Displays Halted at Mount Rushmore
In 2009, fireworks displays had been halted at Mount Rushmore by the National Park Service due to fire risks and other reasons.
August 2010: Opposition to Embryonic Stem-Cell Research
In August 2010, while running for Congress, Kristi Noem indicated that she would vote to ban embryonic stem-cell research.
2010: Run for U.S. House of Representatives
In 2010, Kristi Noem ran for South Dakota's at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and won the Republican primary.
2010: End of Term in South Dakota House
In 2010, Kristi Noem's service in the South Dakota House of Representatives concluded.
March 8, 2011: Formation of KRISTI PAC
On March 8, 2011, Kristi Noem announced the formation of a leadership political action committee, KRISTI PAC.
March 2011: Criticism of Obama's Libya Policy
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.
March 2011: NRCC Regional Director
In March 2011, Republican Representative Pete Sessions named Kristi Noem one of the 12 regional directors for the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2012 election campaign.
2011: Congressional Service
In 2011, Kristi Noem began representing South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2011: Position on Federal Debt Ceiling
In 2011, Kristi Noem indicated that she would vote to raise the federal debt ceiling, but only if "tied to budget reforms that change the way we spend our dollars and how Washington, D.C., does business."
2011: Sponsorship of Measure
In 2011, Kristi Noem sponsored a measure to block Environmental Protection Agency funding for tighter air pollution standards for coarse particulates.
2011: End of Term in South Dakota House
In 2011, Kristi Noem's service in the South Dakota House of Representatives concluded.
2011: Move to Washington, D.C.
In 2011, after being elected to Congress, Kristi Noem moved to Washington, D.C., while her family continued to live on a ranch near Castlewood, South Dakota.
2012: Bachelor's Degree
In 2012, Kristi Noem obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from South Dakota State University while serving as a U.S. representative.
2012: Election Campaign
Kristi Noem served as one of the regional directors for the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2012 election campaign.
2013: House Armed Services Committee
In 2013, Kristi Noem began serving on the House Armed Services Committee.
2014: Work on National Defense Authorization Act
In 2014, Kristi Noem worked on the National Defense Authorization Act as a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
2015: Co-sponsorship of Abortion Bill
In 2015, Kristi Noem co-sponsored a bill to amend the 14th Amendment to define human life as beginning at fertilization, federally banning abortion from that moment.
2015: End of Term on House Armed Services Committee
In 2015, Kristi Noem finished her term on the House Armed Services Committee.
2015: Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage
In 2015, Kristi Noem stated her disagreement with Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court's ruling that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional.
2015: Comparison to Indiana's RFRA Law
In 2015, the religious refusal law signed by Kristi Noem in 2021, resembles the 2015 bill signed into law by Indiana Governor Mike Pence. This was the first major state RFRA law signed into law in six years.
November 2016: Announcement of Gubernatorial Run
In November 2016, Kristi Noem announced that she would run for governor of South Dakota in 2018 rather than seek reelection to Congress.
2017: Support for Executive Order 13769
In 2017, Kristi Noem supported President Donald Trump's 2017 Executive Order 13769, which suspended the U.S. refugee program.
2017: Conference Committee Member
In 2017, Kristi Noem was on the conference committee that negotiated the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which she touted as giving the average South Dakota family a $1,200 tax cut.
2018: Family Church Attendance
As of 2018, Kristi Noem and her family attended a Foursquare Church in Watertown.
2018: Online Sales Tax Bill
In 2018, Kristi Noem "pitched the idea to members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus" to attach her online sales tax bill to the government funding package as part of an omnibus.
2018: Election as Governor
In 2018, Kristi Noem was elected as the first female governor of South Dakota.
2018: Government Transparency Platform
While running for governor in 2018, Kristi Noem made government transparency part of her platform, pledging to build the most transparent administration South Dakota has ever seen.
January 5, 2019: Swearing-In as Governor
On January 5, 2019, Kristi Noem was sworn in as South Dakota governor, becoming the first woman to hold that office.
February 2019: Comments 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, particularly the agricultural sector.
May 2019: Fence Proposal Around Governor's Mansion
In May 2019, Kristi Noem proposed to build a fence around the governor's mansion, estimated to cost approximately $400,000, but retracted the proposal.
October 1, 2019: Josh Shields Becomes Chief of Staff
On October 1, 2019, Josh Shields preceded Tony Venhuizen, becoming Kristi Noem's Chief of Staff
November 18, 2019: Launch of "Meth. We're on It" Awareness Campaign
On November 18, 2019, Kristi Noem launched the "Meth. We're on It" meth awareness campaign. The campaign was widely mocked, and Noem faced criticism for spending $449,000 of public funds on an out-of-state advertising agency from Minnesota. She defended the campaign, claiming it successfully raised awareness.
2019: Gubernatorial Service
In 2019, Kristi Noem began her service as the 33rd governor of South Dakota.
2019: Consent to Refugee Resettlement Program
In 2019, Kristi Noem consented to South Dakota's participation in the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program.
2019: Abolishment of Concealed Handgun Permit Requirement
In 2019, Kristi Noem signed a bill into law abolishing South Dakota's permit requirement to carry a concealed handgun.
2019: Signing of Abortion Restriction Bills
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 had passed the South Dakota House and Senate to legalize hemp cultivation. She expressed concerns about normalizing hemp and its potential impact on marijuana enforcement.
2019: Anti-protest Legislation
In 2019, Kristi Noem's office collaborated with TransCanada Corporation to develop anti-protest legislation in response to protests against the Keystone Pipeline. Noem signed the legislation into law, which created a fund to cover policing costs for pipeline protests. Another law was enacted to raise revenue for the fund by creating civil penalties for advising, directing, or encouraging participation in rioting, which led the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to ban Noem from their grounds.
2019: End of Congressional Service
In 2019, Kristi Noem's service in the U.S. Congress concluded.
January 1, 2020: Josh Shields Departs as Chief of Staff
On January 1, 2020, Josh Shield's tenure as Kristi Noem's Chief of Staff ended.
March 2, 2020: Tony Venhuizen Becomes Chief of Staff
On March 2, 2020, Tony Venhuizen preceded Aaron Scheibe, becoming Kristi Noem's Chief of Staff
March 13, 2020: Order to Close K-12 Schools
On March 13, 2020, Kristi Noem ordered K‑12 schools to close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2020: Peters Receives Agreed Disposition
Around April 2020, Kassidy Peters received an Agreed Disposition regarding her real estate appraisal license.
July 3, 2020: Event at Mount Rushmore with Trump
On July 3, 2020, Kristi Noem did not mandate social distancing or mask‑wearing at the event at Mount Rushmore with President Trump present. She also publicly doubted mask effectiveness, citing the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.
July 20, 2020: Peters Receives Letter Regarding Appraisal License Requirements
Around July 20, 2020, Kassidy Peters received a letter and/or Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law after failing to meet the requirements of the Agreed Disposition regarding her real estate appraisal license.
November 2020: Tourism Promotion with 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.
December 8, 2020: Acknowledged 'Biden Administration'
On December 8, 2020, Kristi Noem tacitly acknowledged the outcome of the 2020 presidential election during her annual state budget address when she referred to a "Biden administration," despite later refusing to accept the election as "free and fair".
2020: Events From 2020 to 2021
From 2020 to 2021, a series of events related to Kristi Noem's actions and policies took place, marking a period of significant activity and developments.
2020: Opposition to Cannabis Legalization Measures
In 2020, Kristi Noem opposed two ballot measures in South Dakota aimed at legalizing cannabis for medical and recreational use. She stated concerns about the impact on communities and children. After both measures passed, Noem and two police officers filed a lawsuit challenging the measure legalizing recreational use, Amendment A.
2020: Meeting Regarding Daughter's Appraisal License
In 2020, after Kristi Noem's 26-year-old daughter, Kassidy Peters, was denied a real estate appraisal license, Noem summoned Sherry Bren, the director of 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: Legislation on Incitement to Riot
In 2020, after a federal court struck down sections of the anti-protest legislation as unconstitutional, Kristi Noem introduced legislation to repeal parts of the previous bill and clarify the definition of "incitement to riot".
2020: COVID-19 Cases Rise After Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
In 2020, after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, in which Kristi Noem participated, COVID-19 cases rose sharply. Hospitalizations reached a then‑record 355 on October 22 (75 in ICUs).
2020: Noem Declines Unemployment Supplement
In 2020, sixteen weeks after Trump's executive order providing a $300 weekly unemployment supplement, Kristi Noem declined the money, citing low unemployment; South Dakota was the only state to do so. The jobless rate in June was 7.2%.
2020: Fence Project Revived
In 2020, the 2019 proposal to build a fence around the governor's mansion was revived, based on the recommendations of Noem's security team.
2020: South Dakota in the 2020 Presidential Election
In 2020, the Trump-Pence ticket won South Dakota with 261,043 votes against the Biden-Harris ticket's 150,471 votes. Kristi Noem was initially designated as one of Trump's presidential electors for South Dakota but later withdrew.
2020: COVID-19 Outbreak at Smithfield Foods Plant
In early 2020, one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the US occurred at the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The plant reported four deaths and nearly 1,300 infections among workers and family members. Noem stated that 99% of the cases weren't happening inside the plant. 48 workers were hospitalized.
January 6, 2021: Response to U.S. Capitol Attack
On January 6, 2021, after the U.S. Capitol attack, Kristi Noem spoke against the violence, supporting peaceful protest. The next day, she called the newly elected Democratic senators from Georgia, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, "communists" in an op-ed for The Federalist.
February 8, 2021: Amendment Struck Down as Unconstitutional
On February 8, 2021, circuit court judge Christina Klinger struck down the amendment to legalize recreational cannabis as unconstitutional.
March 8, 2021: Noem to Sign Women's Fairness in Sports Bill
On March 8, 2021, Kristi Noem announced on Twitter that she would sign H.B. 1217, the Women's Fairness in Sports Bill, into law. The bill bans transgender athletes from participating in women's school and college sports teams. Critics voiced concerns that the bill could deter business and cost the state money.
April 23, 2021: Tony Venhuizen Departs as Chief of Staff
On April 23, 2021, Tony Venhuizen's tenure as Kristi Noem's Chief of Staff ended.
July 1, 2021: Medical Marijuana Legalization
Despite efforts to delay its implementation, medical marijuana became legal in South Dakota on July 1, 2021.
July 2021: Corrections Department Personnel Changes and Mask Mandate
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. Later that month, Noem ended the prison's mask mandate despite lingering COVID-19 cases.
August 2021: CGL Group Hired for Corrections Review; DOC Employees Relieved
In August 2021, Kristi Noem announced that the CGL Group was hired for $166,410 to review the Department of Corrections operations. The director of the prison work program was fired, and two other DOC employees were relieved of their duties at the same time.
September 2021: Extramarital Affair Allegations
In September 2021, conservative media outlet American Greatness reported that Kristi Noem was having an extramarital affair with political operative Corey Lewandowski. Noem denied the report, calling it a "disgusting lie."
September 22, 2021: Center for Public Integrity Sues South Dakota National Guard
On September 22, 2021, the Center for Public Integrity sued the South Dakota National Guard and the U.S. Department of Defense to obtain documents about the deployment to Texas and the donation used to fund it.
October 2021: Committee Invites Hultman and Bren
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 surrounding Kassidy Peter's appraisal license.
November 1, 2021: Government Accountability Board Agenda
On November 1, 2021, the Government Accountability Board set an agenda to discuss issues based on complaints brought by Ravnsborg.
November 2021: Announcement of Reelection Campaign
In November 2021, Kristi Noem announced she was running for reelection as governor of South Dakota.
November 2021: Taxpayer Money Spent on Mansion Renovations
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.
November 19, 2021: Appointment of Mark Miller as Chief of Staff
On November 19, 2021, Kristi Noem appointed Mark Miller as her fifth chief of staff, replacing Aaron Scheibe. Scheibe's tenure lasted from May 1 to November 19, 2021.
December 14, 2021: Bren's Testimony Before Government Operations and Audit Committee
On December 14, 2021, Sherry Bren testified before the Government Operations and Audit Committee regarding Kassidy Peter's appraisal license. She stated that Peters received an Agreed Disposition around March/April 2020, and later, around July 20, 2020, received a letter and/or Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law after failing to meet the requirements of the Agreed Disposition. On July 26, Amber Mulder requested Bren to discuss the definition of a serious deficiency, denial criteria, and the possibility of Peters taking classes and resubmitting.
December 15, 2021: Complaints Referred to Noem and Complainant
On December 15, 2021, the Government Accountability Board referred one complaint to Noem for a response and sent the other back to the complainant for further information.
December 2021: Support for Fairness in Women's Sports Bill
In December 2021, Kristi Noem and her office signaled support for a bill called "An Act to Protect Fairness in women's sports". The bill would require young athletes to join teams that align with their sex assigned at birth.
2021: Events From 2020 to 2021
From 2020 to 2021, a series of events related to Kristi Noem's actions and policies took place, marking a period of significant activity and developments.
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 deny products or services based on religious beliefs related to sexual orientation or gender identity. Critics argued that S.B. 124 would enable discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, women, and minority faiths.
2021: Lawsuit for Mount Rushmore Fireworks
In 2021, Kristi Noem sued U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, seeking to have fireworks at Mount Rushmore for Independence Day. The U.S. District Court dismissed the suit, and Noem filed an appeal on July 13.
January 21, 2022: Defeat of "Prayer Bill" in House Committee
On January 21, 2022, HB 1015, the "prayer bill", which sought to reintroduce prayer in schools, was defeated in the House Education Committee. An aide to Kristi Noem admitted that no schools were consulted about the proposal.
February 3, 2022: Second Complaint Referred to Noem
On February 3, 2022, the Government Accountability Board referred the second complaint to Noem for a response, giving her until April 15, 2022, to answer both pending complaints.
February 2022: Democratic Nomination Announcement
In February 2022, House Democratic Minority Leader Jamie Smith announced he was seeking the Democratic nomination in opposition to Kristi Noem's reelection campaign.
February 24, 2022: House Resolution 7004 Introduced
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: Bawek Files Lawsuit
On March 14, 2022, Stephany Bawek 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 for Noem to Respond to Complaints
April 15, 2022, was the deadline given to Kristi Noem by the Government Accountability Board to answer two pending complaints.
2022: TikTok Ban on State Devices
In 2022, Kristi Noem issued an order banning TikTok from state-owned devices, citing concerns that the Chinese Communist Party uses the app to gather information and manipulate Americans.
2022: Proposal for Government-Paid RV Park
In 2022, Kristi Noem proposed locating a government-paid RV park in Custer State Park. The proposal faced significant opposition due to concerns about government competition with private businesses and disturbing the park's natural environment. The House Agricultural and Natural Resources committee deferred the bill, effectively killing it.
2022: Climate Change Denial
In 2022, Kristi Noem publicly stated that she denies the scientific consensus on climate change.
2022: Publication of Autobiography
In 2022, Kristi Noem published her autobiography, "Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland".
2022: Legislature Rejects Gun Range Proposal
In 2022, Kristi Noem sought to build a gun range in Meade County with government funds, but the legislature rejected it.
2022: Ban on Private Funding of National Guard Border 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: Endorsement of Trump in 2024 Republican Primaries
In September 2023, Kristi Noem endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries at a rally hosted for him in Rapid City, South Dakota.
September 2023: Similar Reports Published
In September 2023, the New York Post and the Daily Mail published similar reports about Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski, which Noem's spokesman denied.
September 2023: Possible Running Mate
In September 2023, when asked on Newsmax if she would agree to serve as Trump's running mate, Kristi Noem responded that she would "in a heartbeat".
2023: Noem's Comments About Granddaughter's Firearms
At a 2023 NRA forum in Indiana, Kristi Noem said that her two-year-old granddaughter had a shotgun, a rifle, and a "little pony named Sparkles".
2023: Child Care Stance
In 2023, Kristi Noem stated she doesn't believe it's the government's job to pay or raise people's children for them.
2023: Funneling of Funds into Personal Company
In 2023, while serving as South Dakota's governor, Kristi Noem funneled $80,000 in fees from a nonprofit, American Resolve Policy Fund, into her personal company. She failed to disclose this payment in her federal ethics filings, potentially violating disclosure rules.
January 2024: Noem's Comments on Southern Border and Drug Cartels
In January 2024, Kristi Noem stated that an "invasion is coming over the southern border" of the United States and that "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."
February 2024: Tied for Top Choice as Trump's Running Mate at CPAC
At the February 2024 CPAC conference, Kristi Noem tied with Vivek Ramaswamy as attendees' top choice for Donald Trump's running mate, each receiving 15% of the vote in a straw poll.
March 2024: Considered as Trump's Running Mate
In March 2024, CNN reported that Kristi Noem was one of four people Donald Trump had shown increased interest in selecting as his running mate.
March 2024: Appearance at Trump Rally in Ohio
In March 2024, Donald Trump invited Kristi Noem to appear with him at a rally in Vandalia, Ohio.
March 2024: Noem's Comments on Tribal Leaders and Conditions on Reservations
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. She also claimed that 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.'" She added: "they live with 80% to 90% unemployment. Their kids don't have any hope. They don't have parents who show up and help them."
March 2024: Promotion of Cosmetic Dentist and 'Mar-a-Lago face'
In March 2024, Kristi Noem shared a video identifying herself as the South Dakota governor and promoting a cosmetic dentist business, Smile Texas, that she said helped her after she lost her front teeth in a biking accident. She has since been associated with the "Mar-a-Lago face" cosmetic surgery trend.
April 2024: Reversal on Federal Abortion Ban
In April 2024, Kristi Noem announced she had reversed her support for a federal ban on abortion, and continued to support South Dakota's law banning abortion except to save the life of the pregnant patient, without exceptions for rape or incest.
April 2024: Odds of Being Trump's Running Mate Wane
In April 2024, it was reported that Kristi Noem's chances of being selected as Donald Trump's running mate had decreased due to her stance on abortion and the revelation in her book "No Going Back" about shooting her pet dog and a goat.
April 2024: Criticism of Memoir Excerpts
In April 2024, pre-release excerpts of Kristi Noem's second autobiography, "No Going Back", received broad criticism and condemnation due to a chapter where she recounts shooting her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, and her family's goat.
August 2024: Induction into Daughters of the American Revolution
In August 2024, Kristi Noem and her sister, Cindy Grantham, were inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution by State Regent Katherine Tarrell at the South Dakota State Fair.
November 12, 2024: Nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security
On November 12, 2024, President-elect Trump selected Kristi Noem to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security in his second term.
2024: Publication and Controversy
In 2024, Kristi Noem published "No Going Back", which sparked controversy due to its account of killing a dog and false claims about meeting with foreign leaders.
2024: Tribal Bans on Noem's Entry
In 2024, all nine tribes of South Dakota banned Kristi Noem from entering any tribal lands, prohibiting her from entering almost 20% of South Dakota. Other media reported that one of the nine tribes, the Yankton Sioux, had not officially banned Noem. The Oglala Sioux banned Noem in February, followed by the Cheyenne River Sioux, the Standing Rock Sioux, and the Rosebud Sioux in April, and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, the Crow Creek Sioux, and the Flandreau Santee Sioux in May.
January 2025: Noem Apologizes to Tribes; Flandreau Santee Sioux Rescinds Ban
Around January 2025, Kristi Noem apologized to the tribes for the misunderstanding between them, and the Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe dissolved its order banning Noem from its land. The tribe cited Noem's commitment to protecting the people of South Dakota, including the citizens of the nine Tribal Nations, and expressed support for her nomination as Secretary of Homeland Security.
January 17, 2025: Confirmation Hearing
On January 17, 2025, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a confirmation hearing for Kristi Noem.
January 25, 2025: Swearing-In as Secretary of Homeland Security
On January 25, 2025, Kristi Noem was sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security after being nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate.
February 2025: Diversion of Coast Guard Resources
In February 2025, Kristi Noem instructed the National Command Center to divert a USCG C-130 Hercules from a search and rescue mission for a coast guardsman to a deportation mission, causing strain between the Coast Guard and DHS.
April 2025: Deportation Numbers
As of April 2025, the Trump administration claimed to have deported around 140,000 people, though some estimates put the number at roughly half that.
April 20, 2025: Purse Stolen in D.C.
On April 20, 2025, Kristi Noem's purse was stolen from a D.C. burger restaurant. The purse contained her government access badge, apartment keys, $2,000–3,000 in cash, her passport, and blank checks. The incident raised concerns about security.
June 2025: Sae Joon Park Deportation
In June 2025, Federal authorities told Sae Joon Park to self-deport or be deported by DHS officials. Representative Delia Ramirez has since called for Noem to resign or be impeached due to her statements to Congress and wants a Congressional investigation into possible violations.
June 2025: Report on Undisclosed Income
In June 2025, ProPublica reported that Kristi Noem failed to disclose past income from a dark money group in her federal ethics filings upon joining DHS, potentially violating disclosure rules.
August 2025: Announcement of Unauthorized Immigrant Departures
In August 2025, Kristi Noem announced that 1.6 million unauthorized immigrants had left the United States since January of that year.
September 2025: Ongoing Romantic Relationship Alleged
In September 2025, New York magazine reported that the romantic relationship between Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski is ongoing, and that Lewandowski plays a significant role in running the Department of Homeland Security.
December 12, 2025: Questioning on Veteran Deportations
During a December 12, 2025, committee hearing, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner questioned Kristi Noem about the deportation of U.S. veterans by DHS. He presented the case of Sae Joon Park, a Purple Heart recipient who had been deported.
2025: Secretary of Homeland Security
In 2025, Kristi Noem became the United States Secretary of Homeland Security.
2025: Response to Potomac River Collision
In 2025, after the Potomac River mid-air collision, Kristi Noem deployed U.S. Coast Guard resources for search and rescue efforts.
2025: Imagined Presidential Takeover and Comments About Biden's Dog
In 2025, in her memoir, Kristi Noem wrote of imagining herself becoming president, taking over from Biden, and suggesting that Biden's dog, Commander, be killed, referencing her own dog, Cricket.
2025: Coast Guard Flights Redirected
In fiscal year 2025, over 886 USCG flights were redirected to deportation missions, transporting 9,805 migrants, according to records. The Coast Guard has defended these flights as routine.
January 14, 2026: Introduction of Impeachment Articles
On January 14, 2026, Representative Robin Kelly introduced three articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem. The articles allege obstruction of congressional oversight, violation of public trust, and self-dealing.
January 2026: Defense of Federal Agents
In January 2026, Kristi Noem defended the killing of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents before any investigation, leading to calls for her resignation or impeachment.
January 2026: Unfounded Claims About Alex Pretti
In January 2026, Kristi Noem made "unfounded claims" that Alex Pretti, the US citizen shot dead by CBP officers during protests against ICE in Minneapolis, had committed an act of "domestic terrorism".
March 2026: Senate Committee Appearance
In March 2026, Kristi Noem appeared before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary regarding reports of a relationship with Corey Lewandowski and misuse of government funds, intensifying criticism and leading to her removal from DHS.
March 2026: Appointed Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas
In March 2026, Kristi Noem was appointed Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a US-led regional security organization. Her role involves diplomatic engagement, coordination between US agencies and foreign counterparts, intelligence sharing, border security, and counter-narcos operations.
March 2026: Report of Potential Firing
In March 2026, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was preparing to fire Kristi Noem amid fallout from a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
March 2026: Reassignment and Nomination of Successor
In March 2026, Trump announced that he had reassigned Kristi Noem to a new position, "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas." Trump also announced that he would nominate Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin to succeed Noem at DHS. Mullin was sworn in March 2026 as Secretary of Department of Homeland Security.
March 25, 2026: Visit to Ecuador and Awarded National Order of Merit
On March 25, 2026, Kristi Noem visited Ecuador in her capacity as Special Envoy, where she was awarded the National Order of Merit in the grade of Grand Cross by President Noboa, recognizing her role in strengthening cooperation between the two nations.
2026: Incorrect Definition of Habeas Corpus
During a May 2026 Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on the DHS budget, Kristi Noem incorrectly defined habeas corpus, leading to a correction and further discussion on executive power. Noem's inaccurate statements about habeas corpus during the 2026 Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing sparked controversy.
2026: Allegations Against Husband
In 2026, Axios reported that Bryon Noem, Kristi Noem's husband, allegedly engaged in bimbofication role play and sent $25,000 to sex workers, with The Daily Mail publishing a photograph depicting him wearing pink shorts and a peach crop top simulating breasts.
2026: Homeland Security Controversies
In 2026, Kristi Noem's immigration policies as Secretary of Homeland Security generated controversies, particularly regarding the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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