Kirstjen Nielsen moved with John Kelly to the West Wing as his principal deputy chief of staff when he was appointed as White House chief of staff in July, leaving the cabinet post vacant. | Andrew Harnik/AP Trump to nominate Kelly's White House deputy as DHS secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who served as Kelly's chief of staff at DHS, was his pick to fill his old job, which has been vacant since July.

The White House announced on Wednesday that President Donald Trump will nominate Kirstjen Nielsen to run the Department of Homeland Security.

Nielsen served as White House chief of staff John Kelly’s top aide during his time as DHS secretary and moved with him to the West Wing as his principal deputy chief of staff when he was appointed in July, leaving the Cabinet post vacant.


Nielsen, 45, is a cybersecurity expert and an attorney with an extensive background in homeland security, including stints at the Transportation Security Administration and on the White House Homeland Security Council under President George W. Bush.

“She would be the first person to run the department who has actually worked there,” a person close to the administration said earlier on Wednesday. “She has a deep familiarity.”

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Nielsen developed a close working relationship with Kelly during the transition, in which she served as his “sherpa,” guiding him through the Senate confirmation process.

Her selection was reported first by POLITICO. Previously considered a dark horse candidate for the post, she rose to the top of the list at Kelly’s recommendation — and after other candidates fell through.

Other people considered by the White House included House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul of Texas, who was passed over because Trump aides didn’t think he had the breadth of knowledge or management capability to do the job.

Nielsen’s no-nonsense style has rankled some in the White House, who had grown accustomed to a freewheeling West Wing under Kelly’s predecessor, Reince Priebus. But Nielsen has been instrumental in Kelly’s efforts to push Trump and his senior aides to use the disciplined policymaking processes of previous administrations, which has limited the flow of paper to the president as well as the stream of advisers who had breezed in and out of the Oval Office.

