President-elect Trump announced on Tuesday that Kristi Noem is his pick for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump says he will nominate South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head Homeland Security Department WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Trump says he will nominate South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head Homeland Security Department. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live ...

South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the federal Department of Homeland Security, according to CNN.

The first time Kristi Noem met Donald Trump, she did what any aspiring governor would do — tried to drum up a little tourism. Come to South Dakota, she told him. See the sights. “I shook his hand, and I said,

Thune, who is 63 and in his fourth Senate term, has promised to work closely with President-elect Donald Trump despite differences between the two over the years.

If Noem is confirmed by the Senate, she will be in charge of immigration enforcement agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Noem, 52, a Trump loyalist who has offered firm backing for the GOP leader's promise to carry out mass deportations, will preside over multiple agencies.

U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune as that chamber’s next majority leader during a closed-door, secret ballot election. When Thune takes over in January, it will mark the first time since 2007 that Kentucky Sen.

President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly chosen South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Thune beat out two other competitors, Sens. John Cornyn and Rick Scott, by gaining majority support from GOP senators in a secret ballot vote.