Saturday to confirm South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security Why it matters: Noem, a Trump loyalist and immigration hardliner, will play a crucial role in implementing President Trump's immigration policies,

Political tensions and questions swirling around the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) promise to be a key test for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) as she takes over the department that houses the agency.

Noem and committee Republicans focused on the border while Democrats asked about foreign and home-grown terrorism during a cordial hearing.

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as the head of the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday with some Democrats backing the South Dakota governor's nomination. The chamber voted 59-34 to confirm Noem who will head up a federal agency that will be at the forefront of President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration.

Kristi Noem​, Trump's pick to lead the sprawling Department of Homeland Security, took questions from lawmakers on border policies and disaster relief.

The two term South Dakota Gov. was tapped by Trump in Nov. and will be key in enacting the new president's mass deportation plan.

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday, voting to give President Donald Trump another Cabinet official who has pledged to help carry out his aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration. The bipartisan vote was 59-34. No Republicans opposed Noem's nomination.

The Senate voted on Saturday to confirm Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, putting a former South Dakota governor in charge of the department at the heart of President Trump’s agenda to crack down on immigration. The vote was 59 to 34, and she was sworn-in on Saturday afternoon by the Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

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.

The U.S. Senate is set to confirm Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, with bipartisan support, as she pledges to enforce strict immigration policies.

Noem will oversee immigration law enforcement, counterterrorism, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and more.