Kristi Noem
Kristi Noem | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| United States Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas | |
| Assumed office March 24, 2026 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| 8th United States Secretary of Homeland Security | |
| In office January 25, 2025 – March 24, 2026 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Troy Edgar |
| Preceded by | Alejandro Mayorkas |
| Succeeded by | Markwayne Mullin |
| 33rd Governor of South Dakota | |
| In office January 5, 2019 – January 25, 2025 | |
| Lieutenant | Larry Rhoden |
| Preceded by | Dennis Daugaard |
| Succeeded by | Larry Rhoden |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large district | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Stephanie Herseth Sandlin |
| Succeeded by | Dusty Johnson |
| Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 6th district | |
| In office January 9, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Art Fryslie |
| Succeeded by | Burt Tulson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kristi Lynn Arnold November 30, 1971 Watertown, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Bryon Noem
(m. 1992; sep. 2026) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | South Dakota State University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
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U.S. Representative from South Dakota
Governor of South Dakota
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security
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Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem (/noʊm/ NOHM; née Arnold; born November 30, 1971) is an American politician serving as the United States special envoy for the Shield of the Americas since 2026. From 2025 to 2026, she served as the eighth United States secretary of homeland security. A member of the Republican Party, she served from 2019 to 2025 as the 33rd governor of South Dakota and represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. During her tenure at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), her immigration policies generated controversies, particularly following the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Born in Watertown, South Dakota, Noem began her political career in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving from 2007 to 2011. She was elected as the first female governor of South Dakota in 2018 with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. She gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for opposing statewide mask mandates in favor of voluntary measures. Noem has conservative positions on most domestic issues, particularly gun rights, abortion, and immigration.
In January 2026, Noem defended the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal ICE agents, before any investigation, which led some lawmakers to call for her resignation or impeachment. In March 2026, Noem appeared before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary after reports emerged of her alleged relationship with her subordinate, Corey Lewandowski, and of her misuse of government funds on television advertisements and private luxury jets, as well as inappropriate use of U.S. Coast Guard assets and housing.
Her testimony before the committee intensified criticism from Congress. After the congressional hearing, Trump announced his decision to remove Noem from DHS. In March 2026, Noem was appointed special envoy for the Shield of the Americas, a US-led regional security organization.