By — Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press By — Sarah Raza, Associated Press Sarah Raza, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/former-homeland-security-secretary-kristi-noem-files-for-divorce-from-her-husband-of-34-years Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem files for divorce from her husband of 34 years Politics Sep 30, 2026 3:33 PM EDT SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has filed for divorce from her husband of 34 years. Noem, who was tasked with leading President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown from January 2025 to March 2026 and previously served as South Dakota's governor, is seeking a divorce from Bryon Noem in their home state. The two married in May 1992 and have three children. WATCH: Trump fires Noem amid controversies over her leadership at DHS The filing, made in April but posted online on Monday, comes after questions arose earlier this year about the nature of Kristi Noem's relationship with a top adviser. The complaint, filed in Hamlin County, notes "irreconcilable differences" as grounds for the divorce. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. In a statement, Kristi Noem's attorney confirmed she has filed for divorce and said she will reserve further comments for the legal process. Lawyers for Bryon Noem did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A day before Noem was ousted from her post in Trump's cabinet, members of Congress questioned her about an alleged extramarital affair with Corey Lewandowski, a special government employee and one of the secretary's lead advisers. He was Trump's first campaign manager in 2016 and appeared to play an outsized role in Noem's department, even though his position was supposed to have a limit on days worked. READ MORE: 3 major takeaways from Noem's first oversight hearing since Minneapolis deaths Noem denied the allegations that they were having an affair, dismissing them as "tabloid garbage." Once a close ally to Trump, Noem became a liability for the Republican president as questions arose over her conduct following the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration officers. Noem characterized both Renee Good and Alex Pretti as aggressors, contradicting videos from the scene and descriptions of their deaths from bystanders. She also faced criticism from fellow Republicans for her spending at her department. Trump nominated Markwayne Mullin, then a U.S. senator from Oklahoma, in Noem's place and made her a special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere. Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City, Utah. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press By — Sarah Raza, Associated Press Sarah Raza, Associated Press
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has filed for divorce from her husband of 34 years. Noem, who was tasked with leading President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown from January 2025 to March 2026 and previously served as South Dakota's governor, is seeking a divorce from Bryon Noem in their home state. The two married in May 1992 and have three children. WATCH: Trump fires Noem amid controversies over her leadership at DHS The filing, made in April but posted online on Monday, comes after questions arose earlier this year about the nature of Kristi Noem's relationship with a top adviser. The complaint, filed in Hamlin County, notes "irreconcilable differences" as grounds for the divorce. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. In a statement, Kristi Noem's attorney confirmed she has filed for divorce and said she will reserve further comments for the legal process. Lawyers for Bryon Noem did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A day before Noem was ousted from her post in Trump's cabinet, members of Congress questioned her about an alleged extramarital affair with Corey Lewandowski, a special government employee and one of the secretary's lead advisers. He was Trump's first campaign manager in 2016 and appeared to play an outsized role in Noem's department, even though his position was supposed to have a limit on days worked. READ MORE: 3 major takeaways from Noem's first oversight hearing since Minneapolis deaths Noem denied the allegations that they were having an affair, dismissing them as "tabloid garbage." Once a close ally to Trump, Noem became a liability for the Republican president as questions arose over her conduct following the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration officers. Noem characterized both Renee Good and Alex Pretti as aggressors, contradicting videos from the scene and descriptions of their deaths from bystanders. She also faced criticism from fellow Republicans for her spending at her department. Trump nominated Markwayne Mullin, then a U.S. senator from Oklahoma, in Noem's place and made her a special envoy for The Shield of the Americas, a new security initiative focused on the Western Hemisphere. Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City, Utah. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now