Washington, D.C. –  On the heels of the recent announcement from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) declaring invalid Chad Wolf’s appointment as Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), President Trump today announced his intention to nominate Mr. Wolf to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.  In response, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) issued the following statement:

“For a year and half, we have watched DHS struggle to carry out its mission in the total absence of Senate-confirmed leadership.  Today’s nomination of Chad Wolf as Secretary of Homeland Security is another step in the wrong direction.  From inflaming tensions in Portland and arresting American citizens without due process to dismantling our asylum system, Mr. Wolf’s tenure as ‘Acting Secretary’ has been an unmitigated disaster.  Instead of leading the agency, he has proven to be yet another of the President’s lap dogs.

“Last week the GAO affirmed its earlier opinion that Mr. Wolf’s appointment as Acting Secretary was unlawful.  The Senate should not confirm Mr. Wolf, and Mr. Wolf should immediately step down from his current position.”