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The US Senate has voted to install Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary as Donald Trump moves quickly to implement his promised crackdown on illegal immigration.
The upper house of Congress voted 59-34 to confirm the governor of South Dakota to lead the Department of Homeland Security, with a mandate to solve the US border crisis.
In his first week in the White House, the president signed a flurry of executive orders declaring a national emergency at the US-Mexico border and ending the US refugee resettlement program.
It also limited birthright citizenship, but the measure was temporarily halted by a federal court that found it unconstitutional. Trump has vowed to appeal the order.
“Border security must remain a top priority,” Noem said during her confirmation hearing last week. “As a nation we have the right and responsibility to secure our borders from those who would do us harm.”
Noem’s confirmation comes after the Senate approved Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Pete Hegseth As Minister of Defense, one of the most controversial presidential choices.
As homeland security secretary, Noem will also oversee the Secret Service, which has come under scrutiny after two assassination attempts on Trump last year, one of which injured an ear.
During her confirmation hearing, Noem said the Secret Service is “in dire need of reform.”
“We all saw the threats [president] Trump last year – and the consequences of failure,” she added.
Noem’s autobiography, which recounted how she shot a cricket puppy for misbehaving, became a national talking point last year.
