Kristi Noem was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to head up the Department of Homeland Security as part of a group of nominees intended to shake up the Washington establishment, but she may face questions during her confirmation hearing initially about her inexperience on national security issues.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the new chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has promised a swift process for Noem to become secretary of Homeland Security and Republicans have largely backed Trump’s pick. The committee initially set the hearing for Wednesday, but rescheduled it for Friday.
In many ways, Noem’s confirmation hearings may compete for the most boring for those of the Trump nominees, some of whom have questions about their personal past or policy stances. Experience, however, may stand out as a key issue because most of her public comments have been about immigration and border security.
The South Dakota governor would be a key leader in implementing Trump’s campaign promises for a tough-on-immigration policy, including mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. But the agency touches on much more, including disaster relief, preventing domestic terror attacks, cybersecurity and airport safety, among other issues.
Noem’s record on issues key to homeland security largely consists of a speech before the South Dakota Legislature raising the alarm about crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border and sending South Dakota National Guard troops to assist with southern border operations.
Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law School professor who worked in Justice Department and Defense Department during the George W. Bush administration, wrote in a Substack newsletter that Noem should answer serious questions at her hearing because she has “practically no national security experience.”
“I have found nothing else on her views about national security, domestic security threats, surveillance authorities, the role of I&A, or the DHS national security portfolio beyond border security,” Goldsmith said. “The Senate will want to probe these issues thoroughly.”
Senate Republicans appear to ready to defend Noem to ensure the Trump nominee makes her way through the Senate confirmation process without a hitch.
Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, newly seated on the Homeland Security panel, expressed enthusiasm about the nominee and predicted a swift confirmation.
“She’s great,” Moreno said. “I can’t wait for her to be on on the job. The reality is, we need her right away. Look what’s going on with our border. I mean, we cannot hesitate. She’s gonna be one of the very, very first confirmations so we’ll get her across the finish line and then some.”
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a committee member, defended Noem’s record on national security, citing a recent meeting between of the two of them.
“It was it was a good meeting, and I am excited,” Ernst said. “As a governor, she has really stood up. We talked about National Guard troops. As a governor, she has provided those to the southern border, just as my governor, Kim Reynolds has. And I think it’s extremely important to have somebody with her knowledge and ability, protecting our homeland.”
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., another member of the committee, said last week Noem’s background as a governor is a strength rather than a weakness on national security.
“She’s a governor, quite frankly,” Lankford said. “There’s a lot that goes into being a governor, making decisions in executive roles.”
Democratic questions
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a member of the Homeland Security Committee, said he expects Noem’s national security issues to be “front and center” during her confirmation process.
“It is a job that involves very directly our national security,” Blumenthal said. “The Homeland Security position, is one that has … jurisdiction over the Secret Service and other agencies that are directly involved in securing our country.”
Blumenthal added he was not impressed with Noem’s background, saying he thinks her experience is “less than what it should be.”
Other Senate Democrats kept their cards close to their vest on strategy for the upcoming process, declining to say much about their approach for questioning of Noem.
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., now ranking member of the committee, said his meetings with Noem were “productive,” but would not venture out further on his thoughts on the nominee.
“We’re still working on that as well and making sure we have all the documents that we need before we have that hearing,” Peters said.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., newly seated on the panel, referenced a discussion with Noem, but also had little to say. “I’ve met with her,” Slotkin said. “She was very, you know, positive to meet with, and I am looking forward to the hearing.”
Attacks and misinformation
Another issue that may potentially animate the interrogation of Noem is recent tragic events that resulted from two high-profile terrorist attacks. One is the ISIS-inspired attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day in which a vehicular assault killed 15 and wounded 35; the other is the explosion set off by a former Army Green Beret outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas thwarted by the insulations of the Cybertruck in which it was detonated.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, said in a statement to Fox News last week the Democrats should join the new GOP majority in acting swiftly to confirm Noem in the aftermath of the attack in his state and Nevada.
“This is no time to play around,” Landry said. “Which is why I am also calling on Senate Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to allow Kristi Noem to get to work on Day 1 as our Secretary of Homeland Security. There should be no gap in leadership. In the wake of the Bourbon Street and Las Vegas attacks, our nation’s security depends on her quick confirmation.”
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas, said on ABC News he has been in contact with Noem, including on New Year’s Day and afterwards.
“We have spoken substantively about the measures that we take, and I am incredibly devoted to a smooth and successful transition to the success of Gov. Noem, should she be confirmed as the secretary of Homeland Security,” Mayorkas said.
One side issue that may come up during the Noem’s confirmation hearing is the role of the U.S government in managing misinformation in the public sphere, which critics have said is an assault on the free speech protections of the First Amendment.
The Biden administration under the Department of Homeland Security set up and later shuttered a “Disinformation Governance Board,” which was exposed by The Intercept in 2022 as seeking to suppress information on subjects potentially embarrassing to the U.S. government and narratives public officials widely saw as misleading.
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, however, said on MSNBC last week one priority for Noem would be addressing how she would handle misinformation against FEMA, citing recent criticism online of the agency’s approach to Hurricane Helene relief.
“So how does she intend to protect FEMA from misinformation about claims that it’s politicized the relief process, as we saw in North Carolina this past fall?” Napolitano said.
At the time, officials expressed concern that those false claims would discourage victims of the hurricane from getting needed help from the U.S. government.
However, at least some of those criticisms appear to have been validated in the aftermath of revelations certain FEMA officials were allowed to decline to provide relief to homes exhibiting Trump campaign signs.
The post Kristi Noem largely glides unnoticed amid other Trump picks appeared first on Roll Call.
