Political tensions and questions swirling around the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) promise to be a key test for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) as she takes over the department that houses the agency.

Noem and committee Republicans focused on the border while Democrats asked about foreign and home-grown terrorism during a cordial hearing.

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as the head of the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday with some Democrats backing the South Dakota governor's nomination. The chamber voted 59-34 to confirm Noem who will head up a federal agency that will be at the forefront of President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration.

Kristi Noem​, Trump's pick to lead the sprawling Department of Homeland Security, took questions from lawmakers on border policies and disaster relief.

Noem received 59 votes in favor and 34 votes against, easily clearing the simple majority threshold she needed for confirmation.

The two term South Dakota Gov. was tapped by Trump in Nov. and will be key in enacting the new president's mass deportation plan.

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday, voting to give President Donald Trump another Cabinet official who has pledged to help carry out his aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration. The bipartisan vote was 59-34. No Republicans opposed Noem's nomination.

The Senate confirmed Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security on Saturday morning, solidifying a crucial staffing post in President Donald Trump 's Cabinet as he plans to carry out mass deportations.

Trump’s nominee for massive cabinet job rebuffs ‘hypothetical’ question as he threatens California fire relief

The US Senate on Saturday confirmed South Dakota governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a key agency in President Donald Trump's push to clamp down on illegal immigration.

Noem will oversee immigration law enforcement, counterterrorism, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and more.