Trump appoints Kristi Noem as homeland security chief
CNN reported on Tuesday, citing two people familiar with the matter, that President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the Secretary of Homeland Security.
CNN emphasizes that the administration will fill two high-ranking positions with advocates of a hardline stance on immigration, Stephen Miller and Tom Homan, which suggests that Trump intends to uphold his promises in this area. Miller will serve as the deputy chief of staff to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, as Vice President-elect J.D. Vance announced.
Meanwhile, Homan, former head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will be appointed, according to Trump's announcement, as the "border czar."
The Department of Homeland Security during Trump's previous term (from 2017 to 2021) experienced numerous upheavals, having five successive heads, only two of whom received Senate approval, CNN notes. With a budget of $60 billion, the department employs thousands of workers.
