On January 25, 2025, Kristi Noem was confirmed as the United States' new Secretary of Homeland Security by a Senate vote of 59 to 34. This confirmation follows a contentious 51-50 vote that confirmed Pete Hegseth as the defense secretary, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem will oversee agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Her confirmation was supported by President Trump, who emphasized her strong stance on border security.
Noem has pledged to prioritize border security and restore the Remain in Mexico policy while eliminating programs perceived to facilitate unauthorized immigration. During her confirmation hearing, she expressed a commitment to ensuring a fair and lawful immigration system.
Additional Senate confirmations included Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, while procedural votes for other nominees, including Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary, are anticipated. Upcoming hearings are scheduled for Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services.