History of Kristi Noem in Timeline
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. Before becoming governor, Noem represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019.
November 30, 1971: Kristi Noem Born
On November 30, 1971, Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem was born in Watertown, South Dakota.
1990: Graduated from Hamlin High School
In 1990, Kristi Noem graduated from Hamlin High School in Hayti, South Dakota, and was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen.
1990: Attended Northern State University
In 1990, Kristi Noem started attending Northern State University.
March 1994: Father's Death and Taking Over Family Farm
In March 1994, Kristi Noem's father died in a grain bin accident, leading her to leave college early and take over the family farm.
April 21, 1994: Birth of Daughter Kassidy
On April 21, 1994, Kristi Noem's daughter, Kassidy, was born.
2006: Elected to South Dakota House of Representatives
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: Served in South Dakota House
In 2007, Kristi Noem began serving in South Dakota House of Representatives.
2008: Re-elected to South Dakota House of Representatives
In 2008, Kristi Noem was re-elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives.
2009: Vice Chair of Agriculture Land Assessment Advisory Task Force
In 2009, Kristi Noem served as vice chair of the Agriculture Land Assessment Advisory Task Force.
August 2010: Opposed Embryonic Stem-Cell Research
In August 2010, while running for Congress, Kristi Noem indicated she would vote to ban embryonic stem-cell research.
2010: End of Term in South Dakota House
In 2010, Kristi Noem finished serving in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
2010: Supported Keystone XL Pipeline
In 2010, Kristi Noem supported the Keystone XL Pipeline.
2010: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 2010, Kristi Noem won the election for South Dakota's at-large seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating incumbent Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.
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: Critical of Obama's Approach to Libyan Intervention
In March 2011, Kristi Noem criticized President Barack Obama's approach to the NATO-led military intervention in the 2011 Libyan civil war.
March 2011: Named Regional Director for NRCC
In March 2011, Republican Representative Pete Sessions of Texas named Kristi Noem one of the 12 regional directors for the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2012 election campaign.
2011: U.S. House of Representatives
In 2011, Kristi Noem represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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.
2011: Debt Ceiling Vote
In 2011, Kristi Noem voted for S. 365, The Budget Control Act of 2011, which allowed Obama to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for spending cuts.
2012: Bachelor of Arts 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: Campaign for NRCC
In 2012, Kristi Noem was a regional director for the National Republican Congressional Committee during the election campaign.
2013: House Armed Services Committee
From 2013, Kristi Noem served on the House Armed Services Committee.
2014: Worked on National Defense Authorization Act
In 2014, Kristi Noem worked on the National Defense Authorization Act.
2015: Co-sponsored bill to define human life
In 2015, Kristi Noem co-sponsored a bill to amend the 14th Amendment to define human life and personhood as beginning at fertilization, federally banning abortion from the moment of fertilization.
2015: Co-sponsored legislation to amend 14th Amendment
In 2015, Kristi Noem co-sponsored legislation to amend the 14th Amendment 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: House Armed Services Committee
Until 2015, Kristi Noem served on the House Armed Services Committee.
November 2016: Announced Run for Governor
In November 2016, Kristi Noem announced she would run for governor of South Dakota in 2018 rather than seek reelection to Congress.
2017: Supported Executive Order 13769
In 2017, Kristi Noem supported President Donald Trump's Executive Order 13769, which temporarily suspended the U.S. refugee program and banned travel from several Muslim-majority countries.
2017: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
In 2017, Kristi Noem was on the conference committee that negotiated the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
2018: Online sales tax bill
In 2018, Kristi Noem pitched the idea of attaching her online sales tax bill to the government funding package.
2018: First Female Governor of South Dakota
In 2018, Kristi Noem was elected as the first female governor of South Dakota with the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
2018: Family attends Foursquare Church
In 2018, Kristi Noem's family attended a Foursquare Church in Watertown, South Dakota.
2018: Government Transparency Platform
While running for governor in 2018, Kristi Noem made government transparency part of her platform.
January 5, 2019: Sworn in as Governor
On January 5, 2019, Kristi Noem was sworn in as governor of South Dakota, becoming the first woman in that office in the state.
2019: Consented to South Dakota's participation in U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program
In 2019, Kristi Noem consented to South Dakota's participation in the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program following a Trump executive order that allowed state and local governments to opt out.
2019: Governor of South Dakota
In 2019, Kristi Noem served as the 33rd governor of South Dakota.
2019: Signed Anti-Protest Legislation
In 2019, Kristi Noem signed anti-protest legislation developed in collaboration with TransCanada Corporation, creating a fund to cover the costs of policing pipeline protests.
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: End of Term in Congress
In 2019, Kristi Noem's service in Congress ended.
March 13, 2020: K-12 schools closure order
On March 13, 2020, Noem ordered K-12 schools in South Dakota to close in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 6, 2020: Executive order and CDC guidelines
On April 6, 2020, 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
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 permission; inspectors were expected to supply their own masks.
April 13, 2020: Comments on Smithfield outbreak
On April 13, 2020, regarding the outbreak at the Smithfield pork plant, Noem told Fox News, "We believe that 99 percent of what's going on today wasn't happening inside the facility".
April 2020: Peters Receives Agreed Disposition
Around March/April 2020, Kassidy Peters received an Agreed Disposition regarding her real estate appraisal license denial.
July 3, 2020: Event at Mount Rushmore with Trump
On July 3, 2020, Noem did not mandate social distancing or mask-wearing at an event at Mount Rushmore with Trump present, despite health experts' warnings about the risks. She publicly doubted scientific recommendations on masks.
July 20, 2020: Peters receives letter
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.
August 2020: Speech at Republican National Convention
In August 2020, Noem was rewarded for her COVID-19 response with a speech at the Republican National Convention, which elevated her national profile and was called a "defining moment in her political career".
October 22, 2020: Record high hospitalizations
On October 22, 2020, COVID-19 patients hospitalized in South Dakota reached a record high of 355, including 75 in Intensive Care Units. Hospital systems rescheduled elective procedures, and the Sioux Falls Mayor advised people to "Wear a dang mask."
November 2020: Promotion of tourism during COVID-19 surge
In November 2020, Noem used pandemic relief funds to promote tourism during a surge in COVID-19 cases in South Dakota. She also did not implement mask mandates, raised doubts about mask efficacy, encouraged large gatherings without precautions, and questioned public health experts' advice.
December 2020: No statewide mandates
As of December 2020, 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: Events from 2020
From 2020 to 2021, the following events took place:
2020: Opting out of federal unemployment benefits
In 2020, Noem opted out of the U.S. federal government's enhanced weekly unemployment benefits of $300, making South Dakota the only state to refuse the assistance.
2020: Meeting about daughter's appraisal license
In 2020, after Noem's daughter, Kassidy Peters, was denied a real estate appraisal license, Noem summoned Sherry Bren, a state employee, to her office. Attendees included Peters, Noem's chief of staff, a Department of Labor Attorney, and the Labor Secretary.
2020: Legislation to Repeal Sections of Anti-Protest Bill
In 2020, after a federal court struck down sections of the anti-protest 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
In early 2020 one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S. occurred in South Dakota, including at the Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, where several workers died and many tested positive.
July 2021: Department of Corrections changes
In July 2021, 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, she ended the prison's mask mandate.
August 2021: Review of Department of Corrections
In August 2021, Noem announced that the CGL Group was hired to review the Department of Corrections operations for $166,410. At the same time, the director of the prison work program was fired, and two other DOC employees relieved of their duties.
September 2021: Report of Extramarital Affair
In September 2021, American Greatness reported that Kristi Noem was having an extramarital affair with Corey Lewandowski, which Noem denied.
September 22, 2021: Center for Public Integrity lawsuit
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 of National Guard members to Texas's border with Mexico and the donation funding it.
October 2021: Committee investigation into 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 agenda
On November 1, 2021, the Government Accountability Board set an agenda to discuss complaints brought by Ravnsborg.
November 2021: Announced Re-election Campaign
In November 2021, Kristi Noem announced she was running for reelection as governor of South Dakota.
December 14, 2021: Bren's testimony before the Government Operations and Audit Committee
On December 14, 2021, Sherry Bren testified before the Government Operations and Audit Committee, stating that Peters received an Agreed Disposition around March/April 2020 and a letter/Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law around July 20, 2020, when she failed to meet the requirements of the Agreed Disposition.
December 15, 2021: Government Accountability Board refers 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.
2021: Events from 2021
From 2020 to 2021, the following events took place:
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 and gave her until April 15, 2022, to answer both pending complaints.
February 2022: Jamie Smith Announced Candidacy
In February 2022, House Democratic Minority Leader Jamie Smith announced he was seeking the Democratic nomination.
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 Noem.
March 14, 2022: Bawek files lawsuit
On March 14, 2022, Stephany Bawek, the 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 complaints
April 15, 2022, was the deadline given to Noem by the Government Accountability Board to answer the pending complaints.
2022: Climate Change Denial
In 2022, Kristi Noem denied the scientific consensus on climate change, stating that it hasn't been proven to her that human activities are affecting the climate.
2022: Published Autobiography
In 2022, Kristi Noem published her autobiography, "Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland."
2022: TikTok ban on state devices
In 2022, Noem issued an order banning TikTok from state-owned devices, stating that the Chinese Communist Party uses information gathered on TikTok to manipulate the American people.
2022: Ban on private funding
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 Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski were published by the New York Post and the Daily Mail, which Noem's spokesman denied.
2023: Opposed Subsidized Child Care
In 2023, Kristi Noem stated her opposition to subsidized child care, saying, "I just don't think it's the government's job to pay or to raise people's children for them".
January 2024: Noem's comments on southern border and drug cartels
In January 2024, Noem stated that an "invasion is coming over the southern border" of the United States and the "enemy is the Mexican drug cartels", who are "perpetrating violence in each of our states, even here in South Dakota" and using reservations to spread drugs.
March 2024: Promotion of Cosmetic Dentist
In March 2024, Kristi Noem shared a video promoting Smile Texas, a cosmetic dentist business that she said helped her after losing her front teeth in a biking accident.
March 2024: Noem's comments on tribal leaders and reservation conditions
In March 2024, Noem said that she believes "some tribal leaders are personally benefiting from the cartels being there", gave no evidence to support this claim and that people on the Pine Ridge reservation are scared and live with high unemployment and lack of parental support.
April 2024: Reversed support for a federal ban on abortion
In April 2024, Kristi Noem announced that she had reversed her support for a federal ban on abortion, saying she believed abortion law should be determined at the state level.
April 2024: Controversy over killing Cricket
In April 2024, pre-release excerpts from Kristi Noem's second autobiography, No Going Back, described how she shot and killed her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer, Cricket, after a pheasant hunt and killing chickens. The book also recounts that she killed her family's male goat on the same day.
August 2024: Induction into Daughters of the American Revolution
In August 2024, Kristi Noem and her sister were inducted into the Daughters of the American Revolution at the South Dakota State Fair.
2024: Published Autobiography 'No Going Back'
In 2024, Kristi Noem published "No Going Back", an autobiography that sparked controversy.
2024: Tribes ban Noem from tribal lands
In 2024, nine tribes of South Dakota banned Noem from entering any tribal lands, prohibiting her from entering almost 20% of South Dakota. However, some reports indicated that one tribe had not officially banned her.
January 2025: Noem apologizes to tribes
Around January 2025, Noem apologized to the tribes, and the Flandreau Santee Sioux tribe dissolved its order banning Noem from its land. The tribe also expressed support for her nomination as the Secretary of Homeland Security.
January 2025: Confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security
In January 2025, Kristi Noem was confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security by a Senate vote of 59–34, following her nomination by Donald Trump.
June 17, 2025: Hospitalized for allergic reaction
On June 17, 2025, Kristi Noem was hospitalized due to an unspecified allergic reaction but was released the same night.
September 2025: Report on Ongoing Relationship
In September 2025, New York 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.
2025: Secretary of Homeland Security
In 2025, Kristi Noem began serving as the 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security.
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