The Senate struck a deal to hold a vote Saturday morning on Kristi Noem’s nomination to be the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The Senate is expected to vote Saturday at 11:30 a.m. to confirm Noem instead of returning on Sunday as originally planned.

President-elect Donald Trump was taken aback by the firestorm against South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) after she crowed about gunning down a 14-month wirehaired pointer named Cricket in her book

Noem's full name is Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem and she was born in 1971 in Watertown, in east central South Dakota. The city is in Codington County about 187 miles northeast of the state's capital Pierre. The new Secretary of Homeland Security is married to Bryon Noem.

So far, three people have been confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet: former Sen. Marco Rubio as the secretary of state, John Ratcliffe as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Pete Hegseth as secretary of Defense.

Noem, a former congresswoman and current governor of South Dakota, vowed to ensure Biden-era immigration initiatives would be shut down.

The Senate on Saturday confirmed Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security, at a time when border security and illegal immigration are top priorities.

The US Senate on Saturday confirmed South Dakota governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a key agency in President Donald Trump's push to clamp down on illegal immigration.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is heading towards a vote on confirming South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, placing her at the head of a sprawling agency that will be essential to both national security and President Donald Trump's plans to squash illegal immigration.

Noem is set to lead the Department of Homeland Security, which will oversee many of Trump's border and immigraiton changes.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, the firebrand who gained a national spotlight during the coronavirus pandemic, was confirmed by the Senate.

By Ted Hesson WASHINGTON - Kristi Noem was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as President Donald Trump's Homeland Security secretary on Saturday, putting into position a key member of the Republican's Cabinet as he launches a wide-ranging immigration crackdown.