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Kirstjen Nielsen
Kirstjen Nielsen is a former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Nielsen left the position on April 7, 2019.[1] President Donald Trump tweeted that U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan would replace her as acting secretary.[2]
Nielsen was formally nominated to the position by President Donald Trump on October 12, 2017. She was confirmed by the Senate on December 5, 2017, by a vote of 62-37.[3]
Nielsen was sworn in as secretary of homeland security on December 6, 2017—the sixth person to serve in the position. During the ceremony, she said, "It is my greatest honor to serve as Secretary alongside the remarkable men and women of DHS. Our nation faces a complex threat landscape that is constantly evolving. I will do my utmost to ensure that the Department meets the threats of today and tomorrow, and to ensure our frontline personnel have the tools and resources to accomplish their vital missions. I am humbled by the trust placed in me to lead our Department. I want to thank Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke for her exceptional leadership over the past four months - especially her work leading the response during the destructive Atlantic hurricane season. I look forward to continuing this Administration's work to raise the standards for the security of our homeland in all areas - including securing our borders, protecting Americans from terrorist threats, and securing our cyber networks.”[4]
Nielsen was White House chief of staff John Kelly's principal deputy chief of staff. She was also Kelly's top aide when he served as DHS secretary.[3]
The secretary of homeland security is responsible for "counterterrorism, cybersecurity, aviation security, border security, port security, maritime security, administration and enforcement of our immigration laws, protection of our national leaders, protection of critical infrastructure, detection of and protection against chemical, biological and nuclear threats to the homeland, and response to disasters."[5]
Biography
Nielsen earned her bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and her law degree from the University of Virginia.
Career
After graduating from law school, Nielsen practiced corporate transactional law for Haynes and Boone, LLP and worked for former Sen. Connie Mack (R-Fla.). Nielsen then created and managed the Offices of Legislative Policy and Government Affairs at the Transportation Security Administration. She was commissioned by President George W. Bush to serve as special assistant to the president for prevention, preparedness, and response on the White House Homeland Security Council. She then worked as the general counsel and president of the homeland security and private sector preparedness practice at Civitas Group. She is the founder and president of Sunesis Consulting, LLC.[6]
Confirmation vote
On December 5, 2017, the Senate voted 62-37 to confirm Nielsen as secretary of homeland security.[7]
| Kirstjen Nielsen confirmation vote, December 5, 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes for  |
Votes against  |
Total votes |
 Democrats |
10 | 36 | 46 |
 Republicans |
51 | 0 | 51 |
 Independents |
1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total Votes | 62 | 37 | 99 |
Senate Homeland Security Committee
On November 14, 2017, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved Nielsen's nomination by a vote of 11-4. Eight Republicans and three Democrats voted to approve Nielsen's nomination. Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris (Calif), Thomas Carper (Del.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), and Gary Peters (Mich.) voted against Nielsen.[8]
Senate Homeland Security Committee delays vote on Nielsen
On November 9, 2017, the Senate Homeland Security Committee delayed a vote on Nielsen’s nomination to be secretary of homeland security because of 197 follow-up questions that she received from committee members. The committee was expected to vote on the nomination on November 9, but Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) said that the vote would be delayed until at least November 13.[9]
Johnson questioned the number of follow-up questions Nielsen received, saying, “To put things into perspective, about the only comparable secretary nomination mid-cycle was Jeh Johnson. He got 42 questions for the record after the nomination hearing. Kirstjen Nielsen got 197. Jeh Johnson’s nomination was moved out of committee within 23 days. We’re at the 24 day mark here. I just think it’s important for this department in particular to have leadership at the helm.” Jeh Johnson was the last secretary of homeland security under the Obama administration.[9]
Ranking member Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) responded, saying, “I certainly agree that we want to do this as quickly as possible, but that delay was more about us waiting for information that we always get for nominees. Nobody was doing anything on our side to delay anything for this nomination."[9]
Confirmation hearing
| Nomination tracker | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate: Kirstjen Nielsen | ||
| Position: Secretary of Homeland Security | ||
| Confirmation progress | ||
| Announced: | October 12, 2017 |
| Hearing: | November 8, 2017 |
| Committee: | Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee |
| Reported: | November 14, 2017, (11-4) |
| Confirmed: | December 5, 2017 |
| Vote: | 62-37 |
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing for Nielsen on November 8, 2017.
In her opening statement, Nielsen said that cyber attacks were one of the most significant threats facing the U.S. She also noted her experience in cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors.
| “ | While each aspect of the Department’s mission is important, I believe one of the most significant for our nation’s future is cybersecurity and the overall security and resilience of our nation’s critical infrastructure. The scope and pace of cyberattacks against our federal networks and the control systems that run our critical infrastructure are continually increasing, with attacks growing evermore complex and each more sophisticated than the last. Cyber criminals and nation states are continually looking for ways to exploit our hyperconnectivity and reliance on IT systems. My cybersecurity experience in both the public sector, having chaired the first White House Policy Coordination Committee on cybersecurity, and the private sector, advising government and non-government officials on the development and execution of strategies to mitigate risks and enhance the resilience of our critical infrastructure has prepared me well for the multi-faceted challenge that is increasing our resilience to cyberattacks.[10] | ” |
| —Kirstjen Nielsen[11] | ||
Nielsen was asked about the need for a border wall and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, among other things. Her comments appear below.
- On a border wall: “There is no need for a wall from sea to shining sea. Technology, as you know, plays a key part and we can’t forget it. There’s a lot we can do with technology to secure our border.”[12]
- On DACA recipients: When Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) asked if legislation should be passed by the end of the year for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Nielsen said, “We owe it to them to find a permanent solution.” According to The Wall Street Journal, “She said the Dreamers wouldn’t be targets for deportation and that their personal information would only be used for enforcement in ‘extraordinarily limited circumstances’ that involve public safety threats.”[12]
Nomination
On October 12, 2017, President Donald Trump formally nominated Nielsen as secretary of homeland security. According to a White House press release, "Nielsen has extensive professional experience in the areas of homeland security policy and strategy, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and emergency management. She is the first nominee for this position to have previously worked within the Department of Homeland Security, having served there in two administrations, first as senior legislative policy director for Transportation and Security Administration under President George W. Bush and then as Department of Homeland Security Chief of Staff under President Trump."[3][7]
Issues
Border security
- On January 9, 2018, during a meeting on immigration with a group of bipartisan members of Congress at the White House, Nielsen spoke about border security, saying, “The reason that border security is so important to have as part of this discussion is that it doesn’t solve the problem if we can apprehend people but we can’t remove them. So we need the wall system, which is some physical infrastructure as the President described — personnel and technology — but we have to close those legal loopholes, because the effect is that is this incredible pull up from Central America that just continues to exacerbate the problem. So border security has to be part of this or we will be here again in three, four, five years again — maybe, unfortunately, sooner. The other point I would just make is, the President asked DHS — he asked the men and women of DHS, what do you need to do your job? Congress and the American people have entrusted to you, the security of our country. What is it that you need? The list that we have provided is what we need to do our mission that you asked us to do. It’s not less than, it’s not more than; it is what we need to close those loopholes to be able to protect our country. So I would just encourage — everyone, much more eloquently than I can, described all the reasons why we all, I think, are committed to helping the DACA population. But to truly solve the problem, it’s got to be in conjunction with border security.[13]
Cybersecurity and elections
- On April 17, 2018, while speaking at a cybersecurity conference, Nielsen warned other countries against trying to interfere in U.S. elections. She said, “The United States, as you know, possesses a spectrum of response options both seen and unseen, and we will use them to call out malign behavior, punish it and deter future cyber hostility. Our cyber defenses help guard our very democracy and all we hold dear. To those who would try to attack our democracy to affect our elections, to affect the elections of our allies, to undermine our national sovereignty, I have a simple word of warning: Don’t."[14]
See also
- Donald Trump potential high-level administration appointments
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Kevin McAleenan
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The New York Times, "Kirstjen Nielsen Out as Trump’s Homeland Security Secretary," April 7, 2019
- ↑ Twitter, "Donald J. Trump on April 7, 2019," accessed April 7, 2019
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Kirstjen Nielsen as Secretary of Homeland Security," October 11, 2017
- ↑ DHS.gov, "Kirstjen M. Nielsen Sworn-in as the Sixth Homeland Security Secretary," December 6, 2017
- ↑ DHS.gov, "Secretary of Homeland Security," July 31, 2017
- ↑ CCHS.gwu.edu, "Kirstjen Nielsen," accessed October 11, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 PBS.org, "Kirstjen Nielsen to lead Homeland Security," December 5, 2017
- ↑ The Hill, "Senate panel approves Trump Homeland Security pick," November 14, 2017
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 The Hill, "Senate panel delays vote on Trump’s Homeland Security pick," November 9, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ HSGAC.senate.gov, "Statement of Ms. Kirstjen Nielsen Before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee On Her Nomination to Serve as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security November 8, 2017," November 8, 2017
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 The Wall Street Journal, "Homeland Security Nominee Says ‘Dreamers’ Won’t be Targeted for Deportation," November 9, 2017
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with Bipartisan Members of Congress on Immigration, January 9, 2018
- ↑ The Hill, "DHS chief issues stern warning to Russia, others on election meddling, cyberattacks," April 17, 2018
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Kelly |
U.S. Department of Homeland Security 2017-2019 |
Succeeded by Kevin McAleenan (acting) |
| |||||||||||||||||||
