Kirstjen Nielsen announced on Sunday that she’s stepping down from her post as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, CBS News reported Sunday. President Trump announced that Kevin McAleenan, commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection, will serve as the interim DHS secretary.
The report said Nielsen’s resignation comes amid Trump’s tougher stance on illegal immigration, while a U.S. senior official said the move is an overhaul within DHS directed by Stephen Miller, a top adviser to the president. Nielsen was confirmed by the Senate in December 2017 two months after Trump nominated her for the DHS chief role.
Previously, she served as chief of staff to John Kelly, former DHS secretary and White House chief of staff, and created and led the government affairs and legislative policy offices at the department’s Transportation and Security Administration.
