DHS secretary pick needs no ‘on the job’ training

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday introduced his choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security, a former staffer at the sprawling federal agency who he says will need “no on-thejob training” to take on the lead role.

Trump called on Congress to “put politics aside” and confirm deputy White House chief of staff Kirstjen Nielsen by a “strong, bipartisan vote.”

But even before Trump formally announced Nielsen’s appointment during an East Room ceremony that was attended by much of the Cabinet and senior members of the White House staff, the top Democrat on a key committee signaled that he had questions about Nielsen’s background.

Her nomination must be confirmed by the Senate.

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, the senior Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, said Wednesday in a statement he was pleased the president had made a decision on filling the post “after letting the critical national security position remain vacant as the nation faced multiple major hurricanes and a domestic terrorism attack.”

Thompson said he had questions about Nielsen’s background, including her past work for the Bush administration.