The Senate confirmation hearing for Department of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem was postponed two days over a delay in the South Dakota governor's FBI background check, according to reports.
Noem, who was originally scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday, will now appear Friday morning.
"Gov. Noem has expeditiously completed all her paperwork, but we are waiting for the FBI to complete their portion of the paperwork," a source told Politico.
Noem gave her final State of the State address at the Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota, on Tuesday night. She's expected to resign as governor sometime after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Monday.
Noem is the latest in a string of nominees to have their hearings held up by paperwork. Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump's pick for Interior secretary, had his hearing delayed two days; ditto for Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence nominee, The Hill reported. The hearing for Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., Trump's pick to run the Department of Veterans Affairs, was also delayed by the FBI.
"Despite his compliance and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee noticing the hearing in accordance with all rules, [Office of Government Ethics] has yet to complete its review. This bureaucratic delay is unacceptable," Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Mike Lee, R-Utah, said about Burgum.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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