Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faces mounting scrutiny over her travel expenses during her tenure as South Dakota governor.
According to Newsweek, travel receipts revealed through a lawsuit showed Noem billed state taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for trips while campaigning for President Donald Trump, sparking criticism from fellow Republicans in her home state.
The Dakota Scout, a Sioux Falls media outlet, successfully sued state auditor Rich Sattgast to gain access to Noem's state-issued credit card receipts. The documents exposed over $150,000 in expenses unrelated to state business, including personal and political trips to visit Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, before the previous year's election.
South Dakota covered more than $640,000 in travel-related expenses for Noem's office during her time as governor. The majority of these costs accumulated as her national profile grew alongside her support for Trump. A significant portion of the expenses went toward security details, regardless of whether the travel was for official state business or personal matters.
Former Republican South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard expressed concerns about the substantial spending, stating it "offends a lot of people." State Senator Taffy Howard also questioned the expenditure, describing it as "an incredible amount of money."
The AP's analysis revealed that South Dakota has relatively loose requirements for disclosing travel expenses. Top state officials from both political parties have historically used state funds to cover their travel costs.
Tim Murtaugh, Noem's spokesperson, defended the expenses by comparing them to Democratic governors' political activities:
They [Democratic governors] maintained aggressive political schedules on behalf of Kamala Harris but somehow escape media attention for costs associated with that, while Kristi Noem is being held to a different standard?
The state auditor's office supported the security-related expenses. Jenna Latham, a supervisor in the office, emphasized that decisions about security detail and their necessity fall under the governor's discretion.
The lawsuit settlement earlier this year resulted in the release of over a thousand transactions from Noem's office. These records shed light on the extensive use of state resources for various activities, including speaking engagements at conservative events and Trump rallies.
Current responsibilities as DHS Secretary add another layer to the controversy. Noem has advocated for increased department funding to implement Trump's ambitious deportation plans, which are set to be the largest in U.S. history.
The Department of Homeland Security Secretary's previous fiscal decisions as South Dakota governor have drawn significant attention from state Republicans. Noem charged state taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for travel expenses while campaigning for President Trump, raising concerns about the appropriate use of public funds.
The release of detailed travel receipts through a lawsuit settlement has provided unprecedented transparency into the spending patterns during her governorship, prompting discussions about the need for stricter disclosure requirements for state officials' expenses.
