What Does New Homeland Security Head Mean for Travel?

Image: PHOTO: Seal of the Department of Homeland Security. (photo via Flickr/Frank Deanrdo)

by Monica Poling
Last updated: 8:47 AM ET, Wed December 6, 2017

The Senate confirmed Kirstjen Nielsen as the new Secretary of Homeland Security on Tuesday.

"By confirming Ms. Nielsen's nomination to lead the DHS, this Senate will take a serious step to strengthen our nation's security," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in a statement.

Nielsen, 45, most recently served as deputy White House Chief of Staff under John Kelly, who held the position of DHS Secretary, until he vacated the post in July to become President Trump's Chief of Staff. Prior to her stint at the White House, Nielsen served as Kelly's chief of staff at Homeland Security.

Nielsen will now head the 240,000-person federal agency that has oversight of 22 sub-agencies, including Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and numerous others, many of which are tasked with moving forward campaign promises outlined by the president during his presidential run.

"Ms. Nielsen will be charged with leading the department at a critical time," he said. "With her understanding of the challenges facing our nation and her experience in prevention and preparedness, I believe that she will excel as the next Secretary of Homeland Security."

According to the Washington Post, Nielsen, who is an attorney and a cyber-security expert, will be the first DHS Secretary with previous agency experience.

With her confirmation, Nielsen has already received the full support of the U.S. Travel Association.

"Secretary Nielsen is a highly qualified leader who understands the importance of blending enhanced security policies with the message that America is open for business," said Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "Her previous work on aviation security, international engagement and cybersecurity gives us confidence that she will advance smart travel policies that do not deter legitimate international visitors.

"The U.S. travel community looks forward to working with Secretary Nielsen to implement effective measures to protect our country's citizens while ensuring that our country remains as open and welcome as ever to travelers worldwide."

Nielsen replaces Elaine Duke, the deputy secretary of DHS who has been serving as the acting secretary for nearly four months.

Following Tuesday's vote, Duke released a statement saying, "I look forward to working alongside Ms. Nielsen as her deputy."

Some Washington insiders predict, however, that Duke will leave the agency in the early part of 2018, according to the Post.

Nielsen new position brings with it a long list of urgent policy issues, including this week's reinstatement by the Supreme Court of a controversial travel ban, which will restrict visa applications from eight countries: Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Nielsen also must deal with the fallout from a report released by DHS Inspector General John Roth that found "key vulnerabilities" leave the agency open to "fraud" and pose "threats to national security and public safety."

As previously noted by TravelPulse, the report also found that Transportation Security Administration officers failed to detect 80 percent of test-weapons smuggled through security checkpoints earlier this year.

In its budget, Homeland Security also has a $1.6 billion line item dedicated to building a wall along the border separating the U.S. from Mexico, a task which is ultimately predicted to cost anywhere from $10 billion to $70 billion, according to the Huffington Post.

During her Senate confirmation hearings, Nielsen told the Senate panel she believed "there was no need to build a wall on the Mexican border 'from sea to shining sea,'" according to Reuters.

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