Following lawmakers' approval Saturday, officials tapped two-term South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be America's new Secretary of Homeland Security. Noem, 53, earned the needed number of votes from ...

WASHINGTON − South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the Department of Homeland Security, handily fielded questions from Senators about her ability to lead ...

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary on Saturday by a 59-34 vote, putting the former South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national ...

WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary on Saturday, putting the South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security ...

WASHINGTON — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will be the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the third of President Donald Trump's nominees to be confirmed. Noem earned the requisite number of votes from senators Saturday, winning ...

Jan. 28—President Donald Trump is freezing federal grants and loans. That's among the moves we're tracking by the new Republican president on Tuesday. Meanwhile, there was significant Democratic pushback, including by Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, on Trump's earlier action pausing funding under the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Here is the latest on the president's actions: Trump seeks to curtail gender transitions for those under 19 President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order aimed at curtailing gender transitions for people under age 19. "It is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called 'transition' of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures," Trump said in a statement. It's the latest push by Trump to reverse policies set by the Biden administration to protect transgender people and their care. On Monday, Trump directed the Pentagon to conduct a review that is likely to lead to them being barred from military service. READ MORE — The Associated Press Karoline Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary, makes her debut in the briefing room White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made her debut in the briefing room on Tuesday and promised to speak frequently with the news media and open up the briefing room to podcasters and social media influencecers. In her first briefing as the public face of President Donald Trump's second administration, Leavitt spent about 47 minutes answering questions from the White House press corps on the impact of a White House freeze on federal grants and loans and on the early days of the administration's efforts to deport migrants living in the U.S. illegally. While Trump often speaks for himself, Leavitt has the responsibility of translating what his remarks could mean for his policies and politics. "I can assure you that you'll be hearing from both him and me as much as possible," Leavitt said. READ MORE — The Associated Press Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pledges to get 'dirtbags' off NYC streets Newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem joined Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in New York City on Tuesday as they carried out deportation efforts. Noem, former South Dakota governor, said in a video shared on X that she went along to get "the dirtbags off these streets." Reacting to the post was Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., who noted "that's what I call a productive morning." The secretary said in another post a "criminal alien with kidnapping, assault & burglary charges is now in custody." "Dirtbags like this will continue to be removed from our streets," Noem wrote. READ MORE — Sinclair National Desk Trump administration freezes grants and loans The White House is pausing federal grants and loans starting on Tuesday as President Donald Trump's administration begins an across-the-board ideological review of its spending. The funding freeze by the Republican administration could affect trillions of dollars and cause widespread disruption in health care research, education programs and other initiatives. Even grants that have been awarded but not spent are supposed to be halted. "The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve," said a memo from Matthew Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget. READ MORE — The Associated Press Hoyer, Democrats push back on pausing of funds under two of Biden's signature programs House Democrats are asking the Trump administration to immediately clarify an executive order Trump issued on his first day in office that could pause all disbursements of Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds. Those were two of the Biden administration's signature laws. More than 150 House Democrats wrote a letter asking the Trump administration to clarify exactly which funds it was targeting. The letter was led by Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the former House majority leader. "This executive order is a source of great anxiety for communities and businesses across the country that use this funding to build new roads, fix bridges, replace lead pipes, expand broadband access, strengthen infrastructure against natural disasters, and much more," the members wrote. "Work is already underway on tens of thousands of projects in both the public and private sector, but their completion depends on these funds, which were already approved by Congress and enacted into law." — Jeff Barker Maryland Quaker groups sue Trump administration over threats of raids at houses of worship A Baltimore-area group is one of five Quaker organizations suing President Donald Trump's administration after federal officials rescinded guidelines that protected churches and schools from immigration raids. The lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland alleges that the Trump administration's policy violates the First Amendment and has caused fear within migrant-friendly congregations. "Our religious beliefs call us to build relationships across geographical and theological lines," the Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends said in a statement. "The very threat of government officials wearing ICE-emblazoned jackets outside of our religious service will have a significant impact on our communities and ability to practice our faith." — Dan Belson Originally Published:January 28, 2025 at 11:22 AM EST © 2025 the Baltimore Messenger (Towson, Md.). Visit www.baltimoresun.com/explore/baltimorecounty/publications/baltimore-messenger. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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 ...

South Dakota governor Kristi Noem was confirmed as the United States’ new Secretary of Homeland Security Saturday by vote of 59 to 34 in the Senate. The confirmation was considerably less ...

Department of Homeland Security Secretary-designate Kristi Noem inched closer to Senate confirmation Friday after lawmakers voted to end debate on her nomination with eight Democrats signaling ...

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 ...

The South Dakota governor was confirmed 59-34 in the Senate. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, the firebrand who gained a national spotlight during the coronavirus pandemic, was confirmed by the ...