Senate Homeland Security committee hears Kristi Noem’s pitch to lead DHS; nominees and senators stress border security, transparency and cybersecurity

Governor Kristi Noem appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Jan. 17 for a confirmation hearing that focused on border security, federal transparency, cybersecurity and disaster response.

Chairman Rand Paul opened the hearing by saying the committee would “consider the nomination of Kristi Noem to be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security” and framed the department as a sprawling agency whose operations merit close oversight. Paul said the department’s list of collaborative entities “was astonishingly opaque,” and urged stronger transparency.

Noem, introduced by Majority Leader John Thune and Senator Kevin Cramer, told the committee she would prioritize securing the nation’s borders, restoring trust in agencies and sharpening DHS’s mission. “Securing our homeland is a serious sacred trust that must be relentlessly pursued,” Noem said in her opening statement, adding she would “seek your wisdom and I will seek your input” if confirmed.

Members of the committee pressed Noem about specific tasks she would undertake if confirmed. Senators raised the southern and northern borders, operations at ports of entry including the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the need to counter homegrown terrorism, and the federal government’s role protecting critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. Noem said she would “ensure that our borders are secure” and promised to work with senators on staffing and resources for northern-border operations.

The nominee also pledged to restore what several senators described as mission focus at DHS subagencies. She criticized programs she said represented mission creep at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and said the agency should “hunt and harden” critical systems. Asked about Secret Service failures and reports of assassination attempts, Noem pledged to work with the committee to provide information and support reforms.

The hearing record will remain open for statements and questions submitted for the record; committee leadership said the hearing would continue around votes and follow-up work. Noem said she hoped to “earn your trust and hopefully also your vote” as the committee pursues its oversight role.