Category Archives: Elaine Duke

Senate Dems want second confirmation hearing for DHS secretary nominee Nielsen

Posted on by

Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee are calling for a second hearing for Homeland Security secretary nominee Kirstjen Nielsen after revelations of political interference in immigration decisions and resignation threats from the acting DHS secretary. In a letter to committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Democratic members cite a Washington Post story saying that John Kelly, the former DHS secretary and current White House chief of staff, tried to bully acting secretary Elaine Duke into ending a special immigration status called TPS — designed to protect undocumented migrants from being deported to countries torn apart by wars or natural disasters. Duke, a highly experienced Senate-confirmed official who is well-liked within the department, threatened to resign, the Post reported. The confirmation process is being closely watched in the cybersecurity policy circles because of the departments key role in defending federal IT networks and America’s vital industries from online attack […]

The post Senate Dems want second confirmation hearing for DHS secretary nominee Nielsen appeared first on Cyberscoop.

Continue reading Senate Dems want second confirmation hearing for DHS secretary nominee Nielsen→

Ray Kelly, Elaine Duke on short list for Homeland Security secretary

Posted on by

Officials have narrowed the list for the vacant secretary of Homeland Security position as the White House aims to find a replacement for retired U.S. Marine Gen. John Kelly, former DHS officials tell CyberScoop. Current DHS Deputy Secretary Elaine Duke, who has been the department’s acting secretary since Kelly left to become White House chief of staff two weeks ago, is among the leading candidates, one former senior DHS official in touch with the administration said. Several former officials from the last two administrations spoke to CyberScoop, which granted them anonymity to candidly discuss internal deliberations they had been briefed on and give their unvarnished views on the candidates. In addition to Duke, the list of possible candidates for the secretary’s post, according to the former senior DHS official in touch with the administration, includes: Former New York Police Chief Ray Kelly Former Coast Guard Commandant and Deputy DHS Secretary James Loy Former DHS […]

The post Ray Kelly, Elaine Duke on short list for Homeland Security secretary appeared first on Cyberscoop.

Continue reading Ray Kelly, Elaine Duke on short list for Homeland Security secretary→