Three former Trump administration Homeland Security officials have found their next gig.
Chad Wolf, former acting secretary of homeland security; Ken Cuccinelli, former deputy secretary of homeland security; and Mark Morgan, former acting commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, will join the Heritage Foundation as fellows in the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy on Feb. 1.
“With the addition of Chad Wolf, Ken Cuccinelli and Mark Morgan, Heritage has assembled an all-star team with significant policy expertise on issues related to homeland security, immigration and China,” Heritage Foundation President Kay James said in a statement. “Heritage was already a leading voice to shape these policy issues. We’re now taking our work to the next level as we confront an emboldened Biden administration that seeks to undo many of the accomplishments of the past four years.”
Each former Trump official will do work that mirrors what they did during their time in the previous administration.
Wolf, who resigned from his post less than two weeks before President Biden’s inauguration following the deadly riot at the Capitol, will work on projects related to national security, China, and cyber policy. Wolf showed “stellar leadership” during “some of the most tumultuous events in our lifetimes” while he served as acting secretary, James said.
“During my time at DHS, Heritage was a strong partner with the Department across a range of issues, to include China, immigration, border security and combating human trafficking and many others that affect our homeland. I am honored and excited to work closely with the talented Heritage team to continue to advance these issues,” Wolf told Axios.
Cuccinelli will focus on immigration and border security while also providing insight into China’s immigration programs.
Cuccinelli worked on “reforming American’s immigration system; worked to combat the scourge of human trafficking; was actively involved in the vice president’s COVID Task Force; and oversaw the protection of federal personnel and facilities during last year’s civil unrest,” James said.
Morgan, who also served as the head of Border Patrol under President Barack Obama, will have a similar area of study, mainly focusing on the border, immigration, and public safety policies, as well as issues related to asylum and China.
All three played significant roles in the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies, and they will be taking their views and experiences to one of the country’s more prominent conservative think tanks, where they will continue to shape conservative thought on immigration and security.
