It has been a wild ride for Kristi Noem lately. If you haven't been glued to the C-SPAN feed or refresh-bombing your news apps, you might still think of her as the Governor of South Dakota who got into some hot water over a memoir and a hunting dog. But honestly? That is ancient history in political years.
As of January 2026, Noem isn't in Pierre anymore. She is right in the thick of the action in Washington, D.C., serving as the Secretary of Homeland Security. And let me tell you, the honeymoon phase of her appointment is officially over. Things are getting pretty heated. Just this week, House Democrats threw down the gauntlet with articles of impeachment.
The Impeachment Articles: What's the Real Story?
So, why are people suddenly talking about removing her from office? On January 15, 2026, Representative Alma Adams, along with about 70 other House Democrats, introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary Noem. They aren't just throwing around minor gripes; we are talking about heavy-duty accusations like obstruction of Congress, violation of the public trust, and something they're calling "self-dealing."
A lot of this stems from recent ICE operations. There was a specific incident in Charlotte that really set things off, where critics say CBP and ICE agents went way overboard, leading to the arrest of U.S. citizens. But the "tipping point," as many are calling it, was a tragic ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis that resulted in the death of a woman named Renee Good.
The political divide here is basically a canyon.
- The Critics: They argue Noem has "weaponized" ICE and is ignoring constitutional rights.
- The Administration: Noem and the Trump administration have basically called the impeachment push "silly." They maintain that the officers involved in these incidents were dealing with dangerous individuals and that the department is finally doing the hard work of securing the country.
Honestly, with a Republican trifecta in the House and Senate, the chances of her actually being removed are slim to none. It requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate to convict, which isn't happening. But that doesn't mean it’s not a massive headache for her. It forces her to play defense when she’d rather be talking about border stats.
Moving the Needle on Immigration and TPS
While the impeachment drama grabs the headlines, Noem has been busy making some very permanent changes to how the U.S. handles people from other countries. This week, she made a big move regarding Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Basically, TPS is a program that lets people from countries facing war or disasters stay and work in the U.S. temporarily. Noem just decided to pull the plug on it for several nations. We are talking about Somalia, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia.
If you're from Somalia, for example, your benefits are now set to end on March 17, 2026. Her reasoning? She says the conditions that led to the original designation just don't exist anymore. It’s a classic "tough on immigration" move that her base loves, but it’s leaving thousands of people in a state of total panic.
Money, Disasters, and North Carolina
Interestingly, while she's being accused of withholding FEMA funds in some circles, she just announced a massive $116 million injection for North Carolina. This is for recovery from Tropical Storm Helene.
A lot of that cash is going toward very unglamorous but necessary stuff:
- Repairing over 300 road and bridge sites.
- Clearing nearly 700,000 cubic yards of debris.
- Rebuilding schools and public safety facilities.
It’s a bit of a "good cop, bad cop" routine. On one hand, she’s the face of aggressive deportations; on the other, she’s the one handing out the giant checks for disaster relief.
The South Dakota "Future Fund" Controversy
Even though she’s moved on to the federal level, her past in South Dakota is still nipping at her heels. Her successor, Governor Larry Rhoden, has been busy trying to distance himself from how Noem handled the "Future Fund."
This was a pot of money that the governor could use pretty much however they wanted for economic development. Critics say Noem used it like a personal piggy bank for things like a gun range that the legislature wouldn't fund and workforce ads that basically looked like campaign commercials. Rhoden just signed an executive order to put "guardrails" on that money, which is a polite way of saying he's trying to fix the mess people think she left behind.
What This Means for You
If you're trying to keep up with Kristi Noem, you have to look past the dog stories from two years ago. She is currently one of the most powerful people in the U.S. government, overseeing a budget of over $115 billion.
What to watch next:
- The Impeachment Vote: Keep an eye on how many moderate Republicans, if any, even entertain the discussion. It’ll tell you a lot about her standing in the party.
- ICE Leadership: She just appointed Charles Wall as the new Deputy Director of ICE. He’s a long-time ICE attorney, and his appointment signals that the aggressive removal of "criminal aliens" isn't going to slow down.
- Legal Challenges: Expect the TPS terminations to hit the courts immediately. The Department of Justice is already gearing up for those fights.
Basically, if you’re involved in immigration law, live in a disaster-prone area, or just care about how the border is run, Noem is the person who is making the calls that affect your life right now. It's less about the ranch and more about the red tape and the raids.
👉 See also: Obama Secretary of Defense 2015 17: What Really Happened With Ash Carter
If you're following these developments closely, your best move is to track the Federal Register for official TPS termination dates and watch the House Judiciary Committee's schedule for any movement on the impeachment articles. The "silly" label might stick for now, but the legal filings are very real.