The chief of the Transportation Security Administration argued Tuesday that President Trump should keep Kirstjen Nielsen on as homeland security secretary, despite reports he has grown frustrated with her leadership of the department.
“My hope is Secretary Nielsen continues as the secretary of homeland security. It’s been an honor to serve with her over the past year,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske told reporters following a tour of security operations at Washington Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia.
“I’ve worked for Secretary Nielsen for a little over a year now and in my view, she’s been an outstanding secretary of homeland security,” Pekoske added. “And she has been very, very supportive of me as the TSA administrator, very interested in our issues, and importantly, very engaged with our workforce.”
Nielsen left the private sector for TSA shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Her time at TSA was her only experience in DHS before serving as former DHS Secretary John Kelly’s assistant in 2017 and later being nominated to head the department of 240,000 employees.
Pekoske, a former vice commandant of the Coast Guard, did not answer a question on whether he would accept the job if Trump’s nominated him to replace Nielsen.
Current and former DHS officials told the Washington Examiner last month they expect Pekoske or U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to take over on an acting or permanent basis should Nielsen resign or be forced out.
Pekoske and McAleenen are career employees who have already made it through Senate confirmation votes with bipartisan support, an indication they could once again sail through the process.
Pekoske was confirmed in August 2017 and McAleenan in May. Nielsen was confirmed by the Senate last December.
