The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as the next secretary of Homeland Security on Saturday, giving the South Dakota governor bipartisan support to lead a department that will play a key role in implementing Trump’s campaign promises for a tough-on-immigration policy.
The 59-34 vote to approve President Donald Trump’s appointment to head the Department of Homeland Security included six Democrats joining Republicans. The Senate moved forward on the floor vote by unanimous consent, a sign her nomination did not have the contentiousness of other Trump cabinet picks.
DHS will have a hand in Trump’s stated focus of 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.
