Kristi Noem, a 2025 Wash100 Award winner, wields unmatched influence in President Trump’s second term. As Department of Homeland Security secretary, she executes Trump’s immigration policies and commands $116 billion in contracting authority, according to the department’s FY 2026 budget request.
Noem’s spending power doesn’t end there. As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law in July, she’s been the beneficiary of an extra $79 billion in appropriations for use in border wall construction, Customs and Border Protection vehicles, and personnel and state border security reimbursement, among others.
Let’s dig into some of the highlights of Noem’s tenure in Trump 2.0.
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What Is Kristi Noem’s Role in DHS?
Noem is peerless among cabinet secretaries at bolstering efficiencies in government contracting, ensuring awards are spent wisely and prudently. She recently touted saving DHS $13 billion and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, specifically, hundreds of millions of dollars by investigating contracts that could be duplicitous, according to CBS News.
The secretary is also spearheading efforts in DHS to rehire experienced police officers and provide them innovative retraining methods to help them acclimate faster to new ICE enforcement initiatives.
Noem’s Revamp of CISA
Noem is leading a broad overhaul of CISA to bolster the robustness of the nation’s cyber defense agency. She’s directed CISA to focus more on cybersecurity priorities and is demanding products with better security akin to previous Secure By Design efforts.
The DHS secretary is also prioritizing advanced technologies to protect critical infrastructure such as financial systems and energy grids. She plans to prioritize private-public partnerships to bolster the U.S.’ cyber foundation, GovCIO reported.
“I have helped make [South] Dakota State University a global leader in cybersecurity education because we recognize the need to address this emerging threat,” Noem was quoted as saying during her confirmation hearing. “I will take this proactive approach if given the opportunity to serve as secretary.”
The former South Dakota governor is also applying her better budgeting approach to CISA. She recently found $10 million efficiencies to help reduce the agency’s expenditures.
Noem’s keynote at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12 is the can’t-miss event of the year for GovCon technology professionals. She’s slated to provide insights on cybersecurity initiatives, Coast Guard acquisition and other actionable business intelligence unavailable anywhere else. Sign up today for this elite GovCon conference!
Noem’s Staffing Priorities
Noem has demonstrated herself to be a prudent manager of federal staffing, approving positions for vital services while trimming others in obsolete areas. In May, she signed off on contract renewals for more than 2,000 FEMA On-Call Response and Recovery Employees just ahead of hurricane season, according to Bloomberg Government.
She also announced on Monday that Coast Guard service members will not miss their Oct. 15 paycheck during the federal government shutdown, NBC News reported. The agency is tapping funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Most federal employees outside of DOD and the Coast Guard will not be paid during the shutdown until appropriations spending is signed into law.
President Trump did not want any of our military to go without pay… and we at DHS worked out an innovative solution to make sure that didn’t happen
What Are Kristi Noem’s Plans for the Coast Guard?
President Trump asked Noem to exercise her management skills by heading a major redesign of the Coast Guard’s force structure—Force Design 2028. This revamp, the Coast Guard’s biggest change since 1915, plans to increase the service’s workforce by 15,000 people, purchase new aircraft, and improve old facilities and accelerate maintenance.
Force Design 2028 has four main pillars:
- Building out the service’s force structure
- Acquisition and contracting reform
- Exploiting cutting-edge technology
- Maximizing return on investment
“You can respond to any kind of situation, it’s incredible,” Noem was quoted as telling senior Coast Guard leaders in May. “I will make sure you are right-sized to meet the requirements of your missions.”
