5 controversies defining Kristi Noem before her ousting at DHS
USA TODAY
Her tenure has had controversies ranging from her pets and government contracts, to defending the killing of US citizens by federal agents.
Kristi Noem’s record as Homeland Security secretary has been riddled with controversy in the year she's led the agency for President Donald Trump.
On March 5, Trump announced Noem, a former South Dakota governor and congresswoman, would step down as head of the department. Her new role, Trump said in a Truth Social post, would be as special envoy to a newly formed security coalition in the Western Hemisphere.
Her tenure, since Trump took office in January 2025, has had controversies ranging from her pets and government contracts to how quickly she defended the killings of U.S. citizens by immigration enforcement officers.
Still, in her time leading the agency − which oversees federal immigration enforcement − she took on oversight of one of the Trump administration's most high-profile initiatives. Border crossings, for instance, have plunged in Trump's first year. Meanwhile, DHS has overseen increases in deportations, particularly of people without criminal records
Here are five controversies surrounding Noem, a Republican who at one point was considered a potential running mate for Trump.
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