President Obama Expected to Nominate Jeh Johnson as DHS Chief
President Barack Obama is expected to announce on Oct. 18 the nomination of Jeh Johnson for Secretary of Homeland Security. Johnson is former General Counsel at the Department of Defense. Rand Beers has held the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief post as acting secretary since Janet Napolitano vacated the position in September.
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“In order for DHS to carry out its core mission of protecting the American people -- from our border and cyber security to the growing threat of terrorism -- the Department needs a strong leader with a commitment to enforcing the law,” said House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, in a statement (here). “Even with this prospective nominee, over 40 percent of senior leadership positions at DHS are either vacant or have an ‘acting’ placeholder. The lack of leadership at the White House is reflected in the holes in leadership at the Department, and these important positions must be filled in order to fill the holes in our homeland security."
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper, D-Del., also stressed the need to fill vacant position in DHS, while welcoming the nomination news. “Mr. Johnson brings a wealth of experience from the Department of Defense, and I am eager to meet with him and discuss his vision for the Department of Homeland Security,” said Carper (here). “I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee to consider his nomination in a thorough and timely manner.” The White House did not respond for comment.