Kirstjen Nielsen Announces Acting Deputy DHS Secretary Has Offered POTUS Her Resignation
Outgoing DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced on Twitter tonight that Acting Deputy DHS Secretary Claire Grady has offered her resignation to President Donald Trump.
“She has been an invaluable asset to DHS – a steady force and a knowledgeable voice,” Nielsen tweeted. “I am thankful for Claire’s expertise, dedication & friendship & am filled w gratitude for her exemplary service to DHS & to our country. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
Acting Deputy Secretary Claire Grady has offered the President her resignation, effective tomorrow. For the last two years, Claire has served @DHSgov w excellence and distinction. She has been an invaluable asset to DHS – a steady force and a knowledgeable voice.
— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 9, 2019
Claire has led the men and women of DHS who support our operational staff. Her sound leadership and effective oversight have impacted every DHS office and employee and made us stronger as a Department. Clair has had a remarkable career in public service…
— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 9, 2019
… – 28 years at the Departments of Homeland Security & Defense – that is coming to a close. I am thankful for Claire’s expertise, dedication & friendship & am filled w gratitude for her exemplary service to DHS & to our country. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 9, 2019
After news broke Sunday of Nielsen’s departure, House Homeland Security Committee chair Bennie Thompson sent a letter to the president saying he should follow the law, let Grady serve as acting secretary, then nominate his own replacement.
Trump has announced that current CPB commissioner Kevin McAleenan is his pick for Acting DHS Secretary:
….I am pleased to announce that Kevin McAleenan, the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, will become Acting Secretary for @DHSgov. I have confidence that Kevin will do a great job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 7, 2019
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the White House was pressuring Grady to resign:
In an effort to ensure Mr. Trump’s preferred official—Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan—takes control of the department, White House officials are pushing the acting deputy secretary, Claire Grady, to resign, according to people familiar with the matter. If Ms. Grady is still serving in that role when Ms. Nielsen officially steps down on Wednesday, a federal statute would require her to be named acting secretary, instead of Mr. McAleenan.
Ms. Grady has told associates she doesn’t want to leave, one of the people said. The White House could fire her or move her to another post in the agency. An administration official said Ms. Grady wasn’t qualified to be secretary and that Mr. McAleenan was far better equipped to oversee immigration policy and other matters.
[photo via Olivier Douliery-Pool / Getty Images]
