President Trump to Nominate Kirstjen Nielsen as Department of Homeland Security Secretary

Kirstjen Nielsen dhs
TOPSHOT - US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with newly sworn-in White House Chief of Staff John Kelly at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2017. US President Trump on July 28, 2017 announced via Twitter that he had picked Kelly to replace outgoing chief of staff Reince Priebus, rumored for weeks to be on the verge of being sacked. The chief of staff traditionally manages the president's schedule and is the highest ranking White House employee, deciding who has access to the president. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s old role is finally being filled.

President Trump will soon name Kirstjen Nielsen to be the new Department of Homeland Security Secretary. Nielsen is Kelly’s current deputy at the White House and a cyber-security expert. She served on the White House Homeland Security Council under President George W. Bush and is also Kelly’s pick to replace him at the crucial agency. Politico reports: “Considered a dark horse candidate for the post, she rose to the top of the list at Kelly’s recommendation — and after other candidates fell through.”

Should Nielsen be nominated and confirmed, she will fill a crucial position that has been vacant ever since John Kelly became the White House chief of staff back in July.

There were rumblings that Attorney General Jeff Sessions would have taken over DHS, but it appears that may not happen now.

A few days ago, The Washington Post reported on the delayed filling of Kelly’s post at the DHS, noting that the organization, which has “240,000 employees, a $40 billion budget and a mile-wide organizational chart,” was facing challenges from every side, including domestic security, hurricane cleanup, and enforcing President Trump’s immigration policies.

With it all but official that Nielsen will get the nod to head up the organization, hopefully this will get the agency back to full working order.

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Jim E. is a true political insider, with experience working both in Washington and outside in real America. Jim... More about Jim E

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