Who's In Charge Of Homeland Security? Elaine Duke Likely To Become Acting Secretary

WHO'S IN CHARGE OF HOMELAND SECURITY?

ELAINE DUKE LIKELY TO BECOME ACTING SECRETARY AFTER REINCE PRIEBUS SHAKEUP

BY Julia Glum

7/28/17



'No Mass Deportations': DHS Secretary John Kelly

Updated | President Donald Trump lost yet another key member of his administration Friday afternoon, removing Reince Priebus from his position as chief of staff and appointing John Kelly. There's only one problem: Kelly already has a job, as secretary of homeland security.

So who's in charge of the department now?

The answer is likely Elaine C. Duke, who was sworn in April 10 as the deputy secretary of homeland security after being confirmed by the Senate. She's spent about 30 years working for the federal government, according to a news release, in roles like deputy assistant administrator for acquisition at the Transportation Security Administration and undersecretary for management. She served under both Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Reuters reported.



As University of Texas law professor Steve Vladeck pointed out on Twitter, the U.S. Code decrees that the deputy secretary of homeland security is next in line, unless Trump decides to use the Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 and appoint an acting secretary of his own.

When Duke was up for confirmation earlier this year, the Senate approved her by a vote of 85 to 14. "Nay" voters included Democratic Senators Kamala Harris, of California; Chris Murphy, of Connecticut; Tammy Duckworth, of Illinois; Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts; Cory Booker, of New Jersey; and Kristen Gillibrand, of New York. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, also voted against her, according to GovTrack.

The Department of Homeland Security had a $40.6 billion budget during fiscal year 2017. It used the funding for preventing terrorism, improving security, managing borders, beefing up airport screenings, detecting nuclear materials and enforcing immigration laws, according to its website.
The department of homeland security did not immediately return Newsweek's request for comment.



http://www.newsweek.com/elaine-duke-...lly-dhs-643660