Gov. Noem Lacks Qualifications to Lead Homeland Security

Sioux Falls, SD — South Dakota Democratic Party Chair Shane Merrill released the following statement after it was announced Gov. Kristi Noem will likely be nominated for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

“Gov. Noem lacks the qualifications to lead Homeland Security. Her years as South Dakota’s governor have proven that she is not equipped to lead such a critical department that safeguards the security of the American people,” said Chair Shane Merrill. “She has faced allegations of misusing her office to help her daughter which resulted in a settlement that cost the state $200,000. Noem is currently banned from all nine Tribal reservations due to her accusations about drug cartels on tribal land and saying Native children ‘don’t have any hope’. She used taxpayer money to send the National Guard to the US/Mexico border for publicity stunts. Her administration has seen constant turnover and she has eroded government transparency. Our state government is also in the middle of corruption investigations involving former state employees. These scandals show that Gov. Noem does not have what it takes to lead a federal department. The American people deserve someone who is more qualified and competent to head the Department of Homeland Security.”

For questions, you can contact the SDDP Executive Director Dan Ahlers at [email protected] or 605-940-3071. You can also contact the SDDP office at 605-271-5405 or email [email protected].