South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has consistently rejected federal climate aid programs and cast doubt on the human role in climate change.
Thomas Frank and Avery Ellfeldt report for E&E News.
In short:
- Noem declined $69 million in federal energy rebates for South Dakota, citing concerns over federal spending conditions.
- South Dakota has one of the lowest collection rates for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) resilience grant program, with Noem accepting only a fraction of available funds.
- Noem, a climate skeptic, has also joined legal challenges against federal climate policies, contrasting with current DHS leadership’s views on climate-linked disaster preparedness.
Key quote:
“I think the science has been varied on [climate change], and it hasn’t been proven to me that what we’re doing is affecting the climate.”
— Kristi Noem, South Dakota governor
Why this matters:
Noem’s views and funding rejections suggest a shift in federal disaster response priorities under her leadership, especially as extreme weather events linked to climate change increase. Her stance could affect how DHS approaches climate-related risks and disaster management at a national level.
