The Senate on Tuesday approved Kirstjen Nielsen, deputy chief of staff at the White House, to serve as the Department of Homeland Security’s secretary through a 62-37 vote, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Her confirmation came two months after President Donald Trump nominated her for the DHS chief post.
Nielsen will oversee a federal agency that runs with approximately 240,000 employees, $40 billion in discretionary budget and 22 sub-agencies that include the Coast Guard, immigration enforcement, disaster preparedness and response, transportation security and the Secret Service.
She previously served as chief of staff to former DHS Secretary John Kelly, who now serves as the White House chief of staff, from January through July and worked at the department’s Transportation and Security Administration.
Elaine Duke, who has been acting DHS secretary since July, will transition to the role of deputy secretary as a result of Nielsen’s confirmation, the report added.
