South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Friday faced questions about the border, national security, and federal disaster aid during her confirmation hearing as Trump’s pick for secretary of Homeland Security.
"How about sex change operations for illegals?" Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) asked the DHS secretary nominee, likely referring to federal policy that has permitted some gender-affirming surgeries for undocumented immigrants in federal custody. "How many of those would you suspect you would fund?"
"Senator, I believe that the Department of Homeland Security will be reevaluating its mission in this country to not allow that," Noem responded.
During the confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the South Dakota governor said that the southern border is like "a war zone," and committed to work with President-elect Trump to reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" policy. The policy required asylum-seekers to stay in Mexico while U.S. courts reviewed their cases.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) also pressed Noem on whether she would withhold federal disaster aid at the direction of Trump.
"I will deliver the programs as the laws dictate," Noem said in response.
