US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen left her post on Sunday, President Donald Trump announced on his Twitter account.
“Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen will be leaving her position, and I would like to thank her for her service,” President Trump tweeted on Sunday night.
The American president also said that before the new US Homeland Security secretary was officially appointed the current Customs and Border Protection commissioner, Kevin McAleenan, would serve as the acting secretary of the Homeland Security.
“I am pleased to announce that Kevin McAleenan, the current U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, will become Acting Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security,” Trump stated. “I have confidence that Kevin will do a great job!”
Nielsen officially announced her resignation on late Sunday night. She announced on her Twitter account: “To the brave and dedicated men and women of the DHS [Department of Homeland Security], I submitted my resignation to the President this evening.”
She also announced that she would stay in the office until Wednesday, April 10, to assist with the transition of her duties within the department.
“I have agreed to stay on as Secretary through Wednesday, April 10th to assist with an orderly transition and ensure that key DHS missions are not impacted. Our missions as a Department are vast and have never been more vital,” Nielsen stated in her Twitter account addressing the staff of the US Homeland Security Department. “You are in the arena – keep up the good fight. Thank you for your sacrifices and those of your families.”