Kristi Noem

Kristi Noem
Born	Kristi Lynn Arnold 30 11, 1971
Birthplace	Watertown, South Dakota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, farmer, rancher
Title	8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security
Known for	33rd Governor of South Dakota; 8th U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
Education	South Dakota State University (BA)
Children	3
Awards	First female Governor of South Dakota

Kristi Lynn Noem (Template:IPA-en; née Arnold; born November 30, 1971) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who has served as the 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security since January 25, 2025. A rancher and farmer from Watertown, South Dakota, Noem rose through South Dakota politics, beginning her career in the South Dakota House of Representatives before being elected to represent South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. In 2018, she became the first woman elected governor of South Dakota, a position she held for two terms until her nomination by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Noem attracted national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for her opposition to statewide mask mandates, favoring voluntary measures instead. Her tenure as Secretary of Homeland Security has been marked by controversy over immigration enforcement policies and management of the department. She has authored two autobiographies: Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland (2022) and No Going Back (2024), the latter of which generated significant controversy for its account of her killing a young family dog and for false claims about meetings with foreign leaders.

Early Life

Kristi Lynn Arnold was born on November 30, 1971, in Watertown, South Dakota. She was raised in a farming and ranching family in Hamlin County, where she developed an early connection to agricultural life and rural South Dakota communities. Her upbringing on the family farm shaped much of her later political identity and policy positions, particularly on issues related to agriculture and rural development.

Noem participated in various activities during her youth, including the Snow Queen Festival, a pageant tradition in South Dakota. She was crowned the state's Snow Queen, an experience she later referenced during her political career as part of her connection to South Dakota traditions and culture.

As a young woman, Noem was active in ranching and farming operations on the family property. The death of her father in a farming accident when she was in her early twenties had a significant impact on her life trajectory. Following her father's death, she returned home to help manage the family ranch and farming operations, delaying the completion of her college education. This period of her life, during which she balanced the demands of running a farm with raising a young family, became a central narrative in her political biography and public identity.

Noem is also a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force.

Education

Noem attended South Dakota State University but did not initially complete her degree, leaving college to return to the family ranch after her father's death. She later resumed her studies while serving in the United States Congress, ultimately earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from South Dakota State University in 2012. Her completion of her undergraduate degree while simultaneously serving as a member of Congress attracted media attention, with The Washington Post describing her as "Capitol Hill's most powerful intern" in reference to her unique status as a sitting congresswoman finishing her college coursework.

Career

South Dakota House of Representatives (2007–2011)

Noem began her political career at the state level, winning election to the South Dakota House of Representatives representing the 6th district. She took office on January 9, 2007, succeeding Art Fryslie in the seat. During her tenure in the state legislature, Noem focused on issues related to agriculture, taxation, and limited government. She served in the state house for two terms, building a political profile that positioned her for a run at higher office. Her voting record in the state legislature was broadly conservative, aligning with Republican positions on fiscal and social policy.

U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2019)

In 2010, Noem ran for South Dakota's at-large congressional seat, challenging incumbent Democratic Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. The race attracted national attention as part of the broader Tea Party-fueled wave of Republican challengers across the country. Political analysts at the University of Virginia Center for Politics noted the competitive nature of the race in their assessments of the national political landscape. Noem defeated Herseth Sandlin in the November 2010 general election, becoming the first Republican to hold the seat since Larry Pressler left it in 1979.

Noem took office on January 3, 2011, and quickly became one of the more prominent freshman members of the Republican caucus. Conservative media outlets highlighted her as a rising figure within the party. During her four terms in the House, Noem served on several committees and was involved in legislative efforts related to agriculture, tax reform, and other conservative priorities. She was a vocal supporter of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, speaking on the House floor in favor of the legislation in December 2017.

Throughout her congressional tenure, Noem maintained strong ties to South Dakota's agricultural community and frequently emphasized her background as a farmer and rancher. She was reelected multiple times with comfortable margins, solidifying her position as a dominant political figure in South Dakota. Noem was succeeded in the congressional seat by Dusty Johnson when she departed to become governor.

Governor of South Dakota (2019–2025)

In 2018, Noem ran for governor of South Dakota with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. She won the general election, becoming the 33rd governor of the state and the first woman to hold the office. She was inaugurated on January 5, 2019, with Larry Rhoden serving as her lieutenant governor.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Noem gained substantial national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for her decision not to impose statewide stay-at-home orders or mask mandates. Unlike the governors of most other states, Noem argued that such measures should be voluntary rather than government-mandated, framing her approach as one that respected individual liberty and personal responsibility. This position made her a prominent figure among Republican politicians who opposed lockdown measures and earned her both praise from conservative commentators and criticism from public health experts. South Dakota experienced some of the highest per-capita COVID-19 infection and death rates in the country during certain phases of the pandemic.

Social and Cultural Policies

During her governorship, Noem signed several pieces of legislation reflecting conservative social positions. In March 2021, she signed a religious freedom bill that critics characterized as discriminatory toward LGBTQ+ individuals. The Human Rights Campaign issued a press release condemning the legislation, calling it a "religious refusal bill" and the first major Religious Freedom Restoration Act-style law enacted in six years. The Advocate reported on the bill's signing, noting its implications for LGBTQ+ protections in the state.

Noem also took conservative positions on gun rights, abortion, and immigration throughout her tenure as governor. She was a vocal critic of the Biden administration's border policies and deployed South Dakota National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in coordination with other Republican governors.

Reelection and Second Term

Noem won reelection as governor and continued to serve until January 25, 2025, when she resigned to assume her new role as Secretary of Homeland Security. Larry Rhoden, her lieutenant governor, succeeded her as governor of South Dakota.

Autobiographies and Controversies

Noem published her first autobiography, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland, in 2022. Her second book, No Going Back, was published in 2024 and generated significant controversy before its official release. Advance copies revealed an account in which Noem described killing a young family dog named Cricket, which she characterized as untrainable and dangerous. The passage drew widespread criticism and became a major national news story. The book also contained claims about meetings with foreign leaders that were subsequently revealed to be false, leading to corrections in later editions.

Secretary of Homeland Security (2025–present)

President Donald Trump nominated Noem to serve as the 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security as part of his second-term cabinet. The United States Senate confirmed her nomination on January 25, 2025, by a vote of 59–34, with some bipartisan support. She succeeded Alejandro Mayorkas in the position, with Troy Edgar serving as her deputy secretary.

Immigration Enforcement

As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem has overseen a significant expansion of immigration enforcement operations, which has been a central focus of her tenure. She has frequently appeared in public alongside President Trump and other administration officials to promote the department's immigration policies. Her public statements on immigration have generated controversy, including claims that were subsequently challenged by fact-checkers. In February 2026, The Intercept reported that Noem had repeatedly claimed in high-profile public remarks that ICE had deported a cannibal, a story that the publication reported was "completely made up."

FEMA and Disaster Aid Controversies

In February 2026, Noem directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to restrict disaster aid over a government shutdown affecting DHS funding. Politico reported that FEMA would stop paying for nonemergency activities as a result of the directive. This decision drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers, particularly in the context of a DC emergency declaration related to a spill in the Potomac River. Noem responded by criticizing Democratic lawmakers for blocking DHS funding.

Additionally, Fortune reported confusion over the status of the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs during the shutdown, with TSA issuing a statement that PreCheck remained operational shortly after Noem had indicated it was suspended.

Department Management

Noem's management of the Department of Homeland Security has drawn scrutiny. Vox published an analysis in February 2026 describing ongoing "drama" within the department under her leadership. Separately, Reuters reported that Corey Lewandowski, a top Noem aide, entered the cockpit of a government jet uninvited during a flight and subsequently was involved in the firing of the pilot over a missing blanket.

PBS NewsHour fact-checked Noem's public statements regarding her agency's role in elections, reporting that her comments "could lead people to misinterpret her agency's role in elections" as she lobbied for DHS funding.

Personal Life

Noem has been married to Bryon Noem, and the couple has three children. The family has maintained a farming and ranching operation in South Dakota. In February 2026, The Daily Beast reported on what it described as "mounting speculation" about Noem's personal life, noting a rare public appearance by her husband amid the reports.

Noem has described herself as a committed Christian, and her faith has been a recurring theme in her political career and public statements. Her background as a farmer, rancher, and member of the Civil Air Patrol has been central to her public identity throughout her career in politics.

Recognition

Noem holds the distinction of being the first woman elected governor of South Dakota, a milestone in the state's political history. Her election in 2018, with the endorsement of President Trump, marked her as one of the most prominent Republican women in national politics during that period.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem became one of the most nationally recognized governors in the United States, frequently appearing on cable news programs and at conservative political events. Her opposition to mask mandates and lockdown measures made her a prominent figure within the Republican Party's base and was credited with raising her national profile significantly.

Her appointment as Secretary of Homeland Security in 2025 represented a further elevation of her political standing, making her one of the most senior members of President Trump's second-term cabinet. The confirmation vote of 59–34 included support from several Democratic senators, reflecting a degree of bipartisan acceptance of her nomination despite her controversial record on several issues.

Noem's two autobiographies, Not My First Rodeo: Lessons from the Heartland (2022) and No Going Back (2024), received significant media attention, though the latter was notable primarily for the controversies it generated rather than for critical or commercial reception.