Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Wednesday pushed back against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s assertion that her department and the Secret Service are ill-prepared to ensure the security of top government officials during the State of the Union.

Pelosi sent a letter Wednesday to President Trump asking him to postpone his address slated for Jan. 29 or deliver it in writing due to the government shutdown. Pelosi said a lack of funding for the agencies has led to “security concerns.”

Nielsen said both agencies are ready to do their jobs, regardless of whether they’re being paid.

“The Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union. We thank the Service for their mission focus and dedication and for all they do each day to secure our homeland,” Nielsen tweeted.



The Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union. We thank the Service for their mission focus and dedication and for all they do each day to secure our homeland. — Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) January 16, 2019

The White House has not yet responded to Pelosi’s letter. The Washington Examiner’s request for comment was not returned Wednesday.

[Opinion: Pelosi is right: Trump should deliver State of the Union in writing, and then let's make it a new tradition]