Kristi Noem is set to step down as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas

Kristi Noem formally concluded her assignment as special envoy for President Donald Trump's administration to the "Shield of the Americas" initiative, a State Department official confirmed Thursday.

Despite the end of this diplomatic appointment, the former governor will continue to participate in Washington's efforts to coordinate security in the Western Hemisphere.

The change in her role occurred administratively following the expiration of her special status last month, just before the United Nations General Assembly sessions in New York, where Noem continued to lead high-level meetings related to the initiative.

A State Department spokesperson explained to CBS News on Noem's new operational position within the foreign policy structure. "Kristi Noem's status as envoy expired last month, and she no longer holds that role," the official said. "She is now senior advisor to Deputy Secretary Landau and continues to work on the Shield of the Americas portfolio."

The "Shield of the Americas" is a strategic alliance launched earlier this year by the Trump administration, comprising the United States and various nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The bloc seeks to strengthen hemispheric cooperation in combating drug trafficking, conducting operations against organized crime cartels and strengthening regional economic relations.

Diplomatic performance and institutional support

Noem had assumed the role of special representative last March, during which time she undertook a working tour of five Caribbean and Latin American countries.

During her tenure with the initiative, she held key bilateral meetings with regional leaders, including a meeting in Quito with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on March 25, as well as talks with diplomats from Colombia and Ecuador in Washington during the month of September.

At the recent Shield of the Americas Leaders' Summit held in New York, President Trump himself publicly acknowledged the work done in bringing the coalition together. "I want to thank Kristi Noem for doing a truly magnificent job," the president said during his address to the heads of state and delegates in attendance.