President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to head the Department of Homeland Security, South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem, had her confirmation hearing delayed by two days.
On Friday at 9 a.m., Noem will testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Previously, she was scheduled to testify before the committee on Wednesday.
A committee aide told The Hill the hearing was postponed “due to a delay on the FBI background check for Governor Noem.”
“Noem is not the only presumptive nominee whose hearing has been delayed by paperwork. Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of the Interior, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), had his hearing delayed by two days,” The Hill noted.
The postponement was caused by procedural delays at the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), according to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Mike Lee.
“Despite his compliance and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee noticing the hearing in accordance with all rules, OGE has yet to complete its review. This bureaucratic delay is unacceptable,” Lee said.
A hearing by former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), whom Trump appointed to head the U.S. intelligence community, was being delayed on Sunday due to a “paperwork problem,” according to Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).
“It’s a paperwork problem right now with the Office of Government Ethics,” Barrasso said in an interview this weekend. “We had hoped to have the hearing later this week. It looks like it’s going to be the following week.”
Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, who was just seated on the Homeland Security panel, expressed enthusiasm about Noem and predicted a swift confirmation.
“She’s great,” Moreno said. “I can’t wait for her to be on on the job. The reality is, we need her right away. Look what’s going on with our border. I mean, we cannot hesitate. She’s gonna be one of the very, very first confirmations so we’ll get her across the finish line and then some.”
Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a committee member, defended Noem’s record on national security after the two met during a meeting in her office leading up to her confirmation hearing.
“It was it was a good meeting, and I am excited,” Ernst said. “As a governor, she has really stood up. We talked about National Guard troops. As a governor, she has provided those to the southern border, just as my governor, Kim Reynolds has. And I think it’s extremely important to have somebody with her knowledge and ability, protecting our homeland.”
Another committee member, Oklahoma GOP Sen. James Lankford, stated last week that Noem’s experience as a governor is a strength rather than a weakness when it comes to national security.
“She’s a governor, quite frankly,” Lankford said. “There’s a lot that goes into being a governor, making decisions in executive roles.”
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who is currently the committee’s ranking member, stated that his discussions with Noem were “productive,” but he would not elaborate on his opinions of the nominee.
“We’re still working on that as well and making sure we have all the documents that we need before we have that hearing,” Peters said.
In response to the attack in his state, Republican Governor Jeff Landry of Louisiana told Fox News last week that the Democrats should move quickly to confirm Noem, joining the newly formed GOP majority.
“This is no time to play around,” Landry said. “Which is why I am also calling on Senate Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to allow Kristi Noem to get to work on Day 1 as our Secretary of Homeland Security. There should be no gap in leadership. In the wake of the Bourbon Street and Las Vegas attacks, our nation’s security depends on her quick confirmation.”
