Trump nominates new Homeland Security chief

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he will nominate Kirstjen Nielsen, White House deputy chief of staff, to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If confirmed, Nielsen would succeed her current boss, White House chief of staff John Kelly, who led DHS until July 31. Kelly vacated his old job to work for the president directly after Trump fired Reince Priebus, his former chief of staff. Elaine Duke has served as acting DHS secretary since then. Nielsen, 45, is an attorney who served on the White House Homeland Security Council under President George W. Bush. She’s the first nominee to lead DHS who has previously worked in the department. As head of DHS, Nielsen would oversee about 230,000 employees and a $40 billion annual budget. “Kirstjen Nielsen is an experienced professional when we need one in place as soon as possible to ensure our natural disaster recovery efforts across the country continue to help those in need,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement. Nielsen will need to clear a vote in the Senate Homeland Security Committee after a confirmation hearing and then secure 51 votes in the full Senate.