The US Department of Homeland Security now has new leadership: Hours after acting Secretary Chad Wolf was sworn into that post, he named Ken Cuccinelli as his deputy. Cuccinelli is an immigration hard-liner who was once seen as President Trump’s pick for the top job.
The Senate confirmed Wolf as the undersecretary of the Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans with a 54-41 vote on Wednesday. But because of Homeland Security’s revolving door, Wolf then shifted into the leadership role on an acting basis. The previous acting secretary, Kevin McAleenan, resigned in October after just six months in the top job.
McAleenan had been installed to replace Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who was ousted in April. Wolf laid out his top priorities in a department wide email, starting with “the historic crisis at the southwest border.” He also announced his decision to elevate Cuccinelli from acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to “senior official performing the duties of the deputy secretary of Homeland Security.”
Wolf has a long history with DHS, including helping to establish the Transportation Security Administration under President George W. Bush. He then left the government to work in lobbying.
